Lake Travis View

BY CHARLES McCLURE

To hear Lakeway Police Dispatcher Anthony “Bryan” Hilton tell it, he was only doing his job when he talked an armed man who had taken hostages at Starbuck’s on Texas 71, just off Bee Caves Road, into disarming and peacefully giving himself up to authorities on Sept. 7.
But for Lakeway Police Chief Gordon Bowers, Hilton’s actions were heroic and personified the best law enforcement has to offer.
Bowers awarded Hilton a plaque in honor of his actions during a ceremony held last Friday at the Lakeway Police Department. In addition to Lakeway officers, all available Bee Cave officers, along with Police Chief Rusty Pancoast attended, to honor Hilton for a job well done.
“Our official police vision is to provide unsurpassed safety and service,” Bowers said. “Two ways we do that is by bringing in the best people we can and by recognizing the ones we have that do great things.”
Hilton joined the Lakeway Police Department about a year ago, Bowers said. But he distinguished himself on that Sunday afternoon when Kyle Brecklin entered Starbuck’s brandishing a gun, making threats and ordered employees to clear the store.
“Bryan handled this call very professionally and was working alone when he received the 911 call,” Bowers said. “The suspect took hostages in the Bee Cave Starbucks and made demands.”
Bowers credited Hilton for convincing the suspect to disarm.
“He first confirmed the release of the hostages.” Bowers said. “He then convinced him not to pick up the handgun again and encouraged him to proceed to the front glass door of the location to be arrested.”
Bee Cave police took Brecklin into custody and then contacted the mental health unit from Travis County.  Pancoast the department filed aggravated assault charges with the Travis County District Attorney’s office, but is uncertain if he will ultimately be prosecuted or not.
“Dispatcher Hilton performed in a manner that is a credit to our agency.” Bowers said. “He actions were essential in resolving a life-threatening situation. During the course of the tape-recorded phone call, the suspect told Bryan that his intention had been to get us [police] to call his girlfriend, who he had broken up with, to come down there, then come outside the store with the gun and point it at officers so they would kill him. Bryan’s actions allowed us to avert that.”
Bowers had high praise for the Bee Cave Police Department as well.
“The way this was resolved shows what a close working relationship the two departments have established,” Bowers said.
Bowers thanked the officers of both departments for their service to the community.
For his part, Hilton said he was simply “doing my job.”
In addition to honoring Hilton, Bowers promoted his senior corporal, Mike Fekishazy, to sergeant.
“Mike has about 11 years of total service in law enforcement,” Bowers said. “He began his career as an officer in West Lake Hills. After that, he worked in the medical field for a time working with high tech equipment. He later became a reserve officer with us and realized that he really wanted to work in law enforcement full-time. He was one the first people I hired and has done a very good job for us since then.”