Skip to main content
  • Call
    Contact Us

    TOLL FREE: 1-866-9-NO-SCAM

     
  • File Complaint
Logo
  • Home
  • Meet the Attorney General
    • Attorney General James Uthmeier
    • Official Photo
  • About the Office
    • Departments
      • AG Opinions
      • Antitrust
      • Civil Legal Services
      • Civil Litigation
      • Consumer Protection
      • Criminal Appeals
      • Litigation Services
      • Medicaid Fraud
      • Parental Rights
      • Solicitor General
      • Statewide Prosecution
    • Programs
      • Back the Blue
      • Be a Florida Hero
      • Consumer Alerts
      • Criminal Justice Programs
      • Military and Veterans Assistance Program
      • Seniors vs. Crime
      • Cold Case Investigations Unit
    • Services
      • Civil Rights
      • Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness
      • Identity Theft
      • Lemon Law
      • Office of Inspector General
      • Open Government
      • Victims Services
  • Contact Us
    • Addresses & Phone Numbers
    • File A Complaint
    • General Inquiries
    • Media Contact
Logo
  • Home
  • Meet the Attorney General
    • Attorney General James Uthmeier
    • Official Photo
  • About the Office
    • Departments
      • AG Opinions
      • Antitrust
      • Civil Legal Services
      • Civil Litigation
      • Consumer Protection
      • Criminal Appeals
      • Litigation Services
      • Medicaid Fraud
      • Parental Rights
      • Solicitor General
      • Statewide Prosecution
    • Programs
      • Back the Blue
      • Be a Florida Hero
      • Consumer Alerts
      • Criminal Justice Programs
      • Military and Veterans Assistance Program
      • Seniors vs. Crime
      • Cold Case Investigations Unit
    • Services
      • Civil Rights
      • Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness
      • Identity Theft
      • Lemon Law
      • Office of Inspector General
      • Open Government
      • Victims Services
  • Contact Us
    • Addresses & Phone Numbers
    • File A Complaint
    • General Inquiries
    • Media Contact

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News Releases
  3. Back Blue Alert Ag Moody Recognizes Desoto County Lieutenant Jumping Moving Semi Save

BACK THE BLUE ALERT: AG Moody Recognizes DeSoto County Lieutenant for Jumping on a Moving Semi to Save Lives

View PDF
Release Date
Sep 13, 2023
Contact
Kylie Mason
Phone
(850) 245-0150

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today presented a Back the Blue Award to a DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant for taking heroic, life-saving actions. While commuting to work, Lieutenant Michael Bellflower spotted a livestock trailer with a driver in distress. Lt. Bellflower rushed through traffic, jumped onto the fender of the truck, broke the window and turned off the ignition. The truck driver suffered a medical event while driving, but the swift actions of the lieutenant helped save the truck driver’s life—while also protecting drivers who may have collided with the massive vehicle. 

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “There are no routine days in the lives of our law enforcement heroes. I doubt Lt. Bellflower would have expected that he would rush through traffic, jump onto a moving semi, break the window and save a life on his way to work that day—but that is exactly what he did. His heroic actions deserve recognition and stand as yet another example of the dangers our officers face willingly to keep us safe.”

DeSoto County Sheriff James Potter said, “Lieutenant Bellflower consistently demonstrates the values we honor at DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, and he certainly exemplified his heroism and dedication on this day. As Sheriff, I couldn’t be prouder.”

Lt. Bellflower is a detention deputy at DCSO and does not ordinarily patrol the roads. On that day, Lt. Bellflower commuted to work and saw a livestock truck that did not seem to be operating normally. Lt. Bellflower risked his life running through traffic and jumping on the moving semi-truck to not only save the driver, who serendipitously turned out to be a good friend of the lieutenant, but also the lives of several other drivers in the area.

Attorney General Moody presented Lt. Bellflower with a Back the Blue Award today at DCSO for the lieutenant’s extreme bravery.

Attorney General Moody launched the statewide Back the Blue campaign soon after taking office in 2019. The campaign highlights law enforcement officers, citizens and organizations taking extraordinary steps to forge positive relationships between law enforcement and local communities. Since its inception, Attorney General Moody has issued more than 50 Back the Blue Awards.

To nominate a law enforcement officer, citizen or organization for a Back the Blue Award, or for more information about Attorney General Moody’s Back the Blue campaign, click here.

Attorney General Moody is committed to recognizing the heroic acts of Florida law enforcement officers and created the Hero Headlines webpage on BeAFloridaHero.com to showcase the brave feats of officers statewide. To learn more, click here.

# # #

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Back the Blue campaign highlights law enforcement officers, citizens and organizations taking extraordinary steps to forge positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Supporting law enforcement is a top priority for Attorney General Moody and the mission of Back the Blue is to commend Florida’s brave law enforcement officers and Floridians who back them.

Resources

  • AG Opinions
  • Annual Regulatory Plan
  • Consumer Protection
  • Doing Business with the Office
  • FAQ
  • Florida Digital Bill of Rights Annual Enforcement Report
  • Opioid Settlements
  • Statement of Agency Organization and Operation

Quick Links

  • Consumer Alerts
  • Military and Veterans Assistance Program
  • Open Government
  • Dose of Reality Florida
  • Request for Proposal for Professional Legal Services – PFAS
  • Request for Proposal for Professional Legal Services – Polychlorinated biphenyls
  • Request for Proposal for Professional Legal Services – Insulin
  • Crime Prevention Summit

 

  • Employment
  • File a Complaint
  • Human Trafficking Summit
  • Victim Services
  • Dozier Claims
  • Nicotine Dispensing Device Directory
Logo

Office of the Attorney General
State of Florida
PL-01, The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Privacy Policy | © 2025 State of Florida. All rights reserved.