On 9/27/07, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, 66th MP Company, was conducting a Combat Logistis Partrol from Forward Operating Base Fenty to forward Operating Torkham when they encountered a VBIED that had exploded and was burining on the side of the road.  While 1st Squad was establishing a security cordon, SGT Espejo and another team leader, SGT Todd, were conducting a search of the area and noticed a man wearing an Afghan National Police uniform, lying on his back with his palms down approximately five feet from the burning vehicle.  The individual appeared to be a victim of the VBIED and was just starting to sit up.  SGT Todd ran to get the Combat Lifesaver Bag as SGT Espejo approced the individual.  Since the individual was starting to sit up, SGT Espejo decided to pick the individual up and carry him away from the fire.  SGT Espejo placed the individual's left arm over his shoulder, grabbed around his torso, and started to walk him away.  When SGT Espejo placed his hand around the individual's torso, he felt something bulky underneath his shirt then noticed a wire running out of the sleeve of his left arm and identified a switch type device in the palm of his hand.  At about this time, SGT Todd was returning to SGT Espejo's position.  SGT Espejo threw the individual away from himself and SGT Todd and they both immediately raised their weapons and took cover behind some concrete pillars.  SGT Espejo was yelling to the indiviual in Pashtu and English to stop and raise his hands with his palms forward.  The individual was initially compliant, so SGT Espejo and SGT Todd started to bound back.  On SGT Todd's last bound back, the individual dropped his hands down to his lap and attempted to push the device in his palms.  SGT Espejo, having gone through all the levels of Escalation of Force, then eliminated the threat.  SGT Espejo and SGT Todd then continued to bound back to their vehicles, where they held security until EOD arrived on scene and removed the Suicide Vest from the individual.  

SGT Espejo's courage and rapid decision to eliminiate the threat of the suicide bomber, disguised as an Afghan National Policeman, were paramount in saving the lives of numerous Coalition personnel and noncombatants.