District Court Judge-elect John Middlebrook.
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Quick thinking by a teenaged passerby, Michigan State Police officers and a Mason County sheriff’s deputy saved the life of 79th District Court Judge John Middlebrook.
MSP Sgt. Michael Cuevas, MSP Trooper Matt Demny and Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Austin Priese were alerted by Landon Mosqueda, 16, of Ludington that Middlebrook needed emergency assistance Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m.
“Saturday late morning MSP troopers and a Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a medical emergency roadside on Jebavy Drive north of US 10,” said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. “The victim suffered a medical emergency while driving southbound on Jebavy. The victim was 79th District Judge Middlebrook.”
“Members of the Michigan State Police, Hart post, and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office were flagged down by a passerby motorist in response to a male located on Jebavy Drive north of US 10 who had been experiencing a medical emergency suspected of being a heart attack,” said Sgt. Cuevas. “Members of the Michigan State Police, Hart post, and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene where we located a 63-year-old male from Ludington, Michigan who had gone off the road. He was found unresponsive, without a pulse and not breathing.”
Cuevas and Demny immediately began CPR on Middlebrook and utilized an AED — automated external defibrillator. “After numerous rounds of CPR and a successful shock from the AED, (Judge Middlebrook) began breathing and his pulse was detected again. He was transported to Corewell Health Ludington Hospital and then transferred to Trinity Health in Muskegon where he is now expected to make a full recovery.
“Members of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the Ludington Police Department shut down US 10 from Jebavy Drive to Atkinson Drive and provided a police escort for Life EMS, so the patient could receive lifesaving care at Corewell Health,” said Sgt. Cuevas.
“Ludington police officers assisted with clearing intersections between the scene of the medical and ER, which allowed for Life EMS to expedite transport to ER,” said Sheriff Cole. “Judge Middlebrook was alert and speaking while I arrived at ER.”
“Michigan State Police prioritizes training both in first aid, defensive tactics, firearms and de-escalation, and the training we received at the academy and continue to receive throughout our years of service is what really prompted the response and the techniques and the overall efficiency that we were able to identify CPR needed to be initiated immediately when no pulse and no breathing were detected,” Sgt. Cuevas. “Because of this training, the patient is expected to not only survive but make a full recovery.”
Mosqueda observed Middlebrook’s car go off the road and flagged down police who were in the vicinity. “I believe the passerby saw the patrol cars right down the road, and left the scene to flag us down while somebody was on scene with the patient, calling Mason-Oceana Central Dispatch.”
The 911 caller was Brianne Llosey, he said. “She called 911 and stated there was a male, unresponsive, in his vehicle,” said Cuevas. “The vehicle was described as a blue passenger car and she was unsure if he was breathing or not.”
“Lifesaving measures were performed by the troopers and the deputy,” said Sheriff Cole. “I have no doubt those efforts saved the judge’s life.”
The judge, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, had the “forethought” to turn on his hazard lights before he became unresponsive, said Cuevas.
Middlebrook, who is the judge for the 79th District Court in Oceana and Mason counties, was expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday, April 1.
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