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SANTA CRUZ -- Sheriff's Sgt. Patrick Dimick was awarded the Sheriff's Silver Medal of Valor on Friday after he stopped a man from attacking his ex-wife in a Live Oak trailer.
Dimick also was promoted from deputy to sergeant at a ceremony at the Sheriff's Office on Friday.
"I think he's definitely deserving," said deputy April Skalland.
"He's one of the people who we look up to in the department. We need role models like that." Dimick responded to a call at a mobile home park on the 2500 block of Portola Drive just before 7 a.m. Feb. 14, Skalland said.
Dimick found a 13-year-old girl with a knife wound on her throat. She directed him to the mobile home, where Dimick heard a struggle.
A bloody knife was on the ground near the door.
Dimick drew his Taser and burst in the mobile home. Christopher Lindner, 45, was straddling his ex-wife with his hands near her throat. She was bleeding from slashes on her face.
Dimick ordered him to stop. Lindner paused, then continued to attack her, Skalland said.
Dimick then fired his Taser at Lindner. Dimick and another deputy dragged Lindner off the woman and handcuffed him.
The deputies treated the woman and her daughter for their injuries until more help arrived.
"Deputy Dimick moved into a tumultuous and dangerous environment, assessed the event, and used the level of force needed to abate the criminal activity," Skalland said.
Dimick, 39, has been with the
He has been a lead homicide investigator, participated on the SWAT team, field training unit and court security.
Dimick holds a bachelor's degree in communications from California State University, Sacramento.
Lindner was held to answer for a trial on charges that include attempted murder, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated mayhem, among other charges, according to prosecutor Erika Ziegenhorn.
Lindner is in County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to records. He is due back in court July 24 for a pretrial conference.
Follow Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter on Twitter @sbaxter_sc
