PETOSKEY — Earlier this month, Cody and Charlie Parks of Carp Lake stepped in to a dangerous situation and saved the life of an assault victim.
Their heroism was acknowledged on Friday, Aug. 22 by Emmet County law enforcement and officials.
“I just want to express, on behalf of law enforcement, we often times see people at their worst, at their lowest points,” said Mike Schuitema, prosecuting attorney for Emmet County. “We see people making a lot of mistakes, making selfish decisions, kind of wreaking havoc on the community. But what we saw out of Cody and Charlie that day was the complete opposite. We saw selflessness, we saw really what a community should be — people who help their neighbors, defend their neighbors. I just want to express to you guys our gratitude.”
Cody, Charlie, their friends and family gathered in the Emmet County 90th District Court for the ceremony, where they were both presented with plaques.
“You guys risked your own safety to help someone who was utterly defenseless,” Schuitema said. “I think Sheriff (Matt) Leirstein and I are both convinced that this woman would not be alive today if it wasn’t for what you guys did. It showed a lot of bravery, courage, integrity.”
Leirstein added that “it’s unbelievable.”
“I thank you, as the chief law enforcement officer in this county, for you stepping up and doing the right thing here. Again, she is not living today without you guys stepping up and doing what you did. The bravery, unbelievable,” he said. “Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for everything you did. I truly, truly appreciate it.”
According to Leirstein, the incident on Aug. 4 initially stemmed from an act of animal abuse. When a woman later confronted the alleged abuser, he turned his aggression on her and assaulted her. Cody and Charlie intervened. The woman was seriously injured and hospitalized as a result of the attack.
The suspect, John Zarling, 57, was arrested and faces nine charges in Emmet County’s 57th Circuit Court.
The plaques presented to the brothers read: “Your community commends you for the extraordinary courage, bravery and selflessness you demonstrated on Aug. 4, 2025, in coming to the aid and rescue of an unconscious and defenseless assault victim while the attack was ongoing, and fearlessly taking on a much larger aggressor, likely saving the victim’s life, and subduing the attacker until the police arrived. Your actions demonstrated the highest examples of citizenship and public service. Law enforcement extends its deepest appreciation for your actions on that day.”
“I honestly just did what I felt anyone would do in that moment,” Cody said. “I’m grateful that Charlie and I were in the right place at the right time, and most importantly that our neighbor is safe and alive today. We want to thank all the community members who have reached out with kindness and support. Our community may be small, but moments like this remind us of how strong and connected we are when we look out for one another. We accept this honor not just for ourselves, but for everyone here who believes in stepping up and protecting each other when it matters most.”
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Carp Lake brothers honored for life-saving efforts in stopping violent assault
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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