Deputy Kelly Potter was honored with a letter of commendation Wednesday for his outstanding performance during a robbery that took place Monday evening.

While doing a routine patrol, Potter said he noticed a Mazda truck parked in front of Allen's Gun Shop on Dover Road. The driver's door was open. When he flashed his light on the building, he noticed the truck had smashed a large hole in the front of the building. When Potter drove closer to investigate the scene, the suspect, Donald Michael Richardson, 55, of Cedar Street, was climbing out of the man-made hole holding three World War II rifles, according to Potter's report. "At first I was shocked," Potter said. "Your adrenaline starts kicking and everything starts flowing together." Potter drew his gun and arrested Richardson. Clarksville Police officers responded to provide backup.

A law enforcement officer witnessing a crime in progress is a rare experience, said Ted Denny, a sheriff’s office spokesman.

Sheriff Norman Lewis presented the Letter of Commendation to Potter on Wednesday at a ceremony.

“This was an outstanding arrest — one in which Deputy Kelly was vigilant in his duties,” Lewis said. “We commend him for doing so and congratulate him on a job well done.”

Potter is a 29-year-old native of Mt. Shasta, Calif. He served in the U.S. Army for nine years before he started a law enforcement career. He has been working at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for a year. Potter is a recent graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy.

“I hope to catch a few more of those guys,” Potter said. “I’m just glad to be a part of it, and I’d like to thank the Sheriff’s Department for my job, the Clarksville Police Department for coming out so quickly to help, and I’d like to thank my wife, Emma.”