On Wednesday, Police Captain of Operations Chris Barry presented a Certificate of Recognition to Lexingtonian Haoyang Yu for saving a teen skater’s life at the Old Reservoir.
Yu, who had been dog-sitting for a friend on Dec. 26, used the borrowed dog leash he had on hand by chance to pull 14-year-old hockey player Vasili out of the ice near the center of the Old Reservoir, as previously reported.
“We’re very thankful that you were there that day, and [that] you acted the way you acted,” Barry said as he presented the certificate to Yu. “I’m sure the youths…that fell into the water were more than appreciative, and their families are as well.”
This is the third-ever Certificate of Recognition the LPD has awarded, according to Barry. The certificates acknowledge exceptional acts of public service by community members.
“I really appreciate that the town and the Police Department value this [act],” Yu said. “It really reflects the value of the entire town.”
Yu, an engineer, has spent the past few years of his life fighting a sprawling federal investigation that initially pegged him as a national security threat based on his work manufacturing semiconductor chips, as reported by the Intercept. Yu was acquitted of the great majority of charges against him this spring, and continues to argue that he has been selectively prosecuted because of his ethnicity. On the local level, CALex has joined regional organizations backing that argument; they’ve called on U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins to dismiss Yu’s case, and his single conviction of possessing stolen trade secrets.
Yu’s certificate, signed by Police Chief Mike McLean, recognizes his “heroic and selfless actions” to rescue Vasili.
Material from a previous LexObserver story was used in this article.
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