Lubbock Animal Control officer Pete Ortiz is awesome. Not only did he save a deer lost deep within the city limits, but he quite possibly saved vehicles and human lives.

The buck was first spotted at 82nd Street & Iola this week. After efforts by a citizen and a police officer to corral the deer, it bolted to the intersection on 82nd Street & Genoa. Luckily, that's when Officer Ortiz was able to position his vehicle so others could avoid the deer. Officer Ortiz then got the deer into an alley, where he humanely tranquilized the animal.

Officer Ortiz let the buck "sleep it off," gave him some water and let him go free in a safe place after he woke up.

Thank you SO MUCH Officer Ortiz for keeping everyone (including the deer) safe during this encounter.

And thanks to KLBK-Everything Lubbock for their excellent coverage of the story:

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