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on August 6 2017 officer Chad Martin was driving home on a Louisiana Interstate after clocking out of his shift Martin
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noticed a white van driving erratically in front of him he decided to get him to
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the shoulder and speed off didn't sit right with me so I got in behind him I put my emergency lights
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sirens on Martin followed the van until it got stuck in the mud on a dead end Road two men jumped out and took off
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running when you approached the van you've got your gun drawn yes sir I opened the rear door of the van and in
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the van what I thought was a mannequin moved scared startled me so I jumped back and I shut the door
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I said oh my God but when Martin opened the doors again he found Shonda Hanley handcuffed in the back she looked at me
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and I'll never forget this she said are you the real police are you the one that's going to kill me and he was like
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you're safe officer Martin had made the rescue of a lifetime what's going through your head I mean
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you were just trying to pull over a couple of guys who looked a little suspicious I can't really tell you it
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was going through my head almost like I went into like robot mode and I was just
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trying to get this woman help Shonda had told him a harrowing story that the kidnappers had drugged her and
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threatened to rape and kill her if not for Chad Martin oh I would be dead I can't even imagine
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but I know it wasn't going to be quick and Swift years later Shonda wanted the chance to thank Martin in person in 48
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hours arranged for them to meet so good to meet you good to see you again yeah I'm looking at you to see if I can
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remember I remember I'm really glad that I was in the right place at the right time to help you
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really glad thank you I feel like I owe you everything I guess my greatest gratitude
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in you saving my life is that my daughter gets to have her mom and have a good life
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thank you [Music]