Michael Wakeman Lakewood

Scorpio rising

Aimee Wakeman, 10, of Lakewood, was the first Mile Hi Council Girl Scout to be awarded the Girl Scout Bronze Cross Lifesaving Award. Wakeman helped save the lives of her father, Michael, and her brother, Levi, 6, on April 1, 2005, when an intruder forced his way into their Lakewood home and began attacking her father.

Photo by CHRISTOPHER STARK Lakewood resident Michael Wakeman describes his 11-year-old daughter, Aimee, as fiery.

"She's a Scorpio," he said, "which was the right thing for that night."

That night was April 1, 2005, when Aimee intervened as an intruder attacked her father in their home. A Girl Scout, Aimee received the Bronze Cross Monday, July 17. The award is given to Girl Scouts who have saved or attempted to save a human life, often at the detriment of their own safety.

"I'm honored," Aimee said. "I love being a Girl Scout. I love what I do."

For Aimee and her family, memories about the notorious night are still cloudy. What's known is that Terry Michael Bruch, 48 — an employee of Michael Wakeman who was known to Aimee — cut the Wakeman's phone lines before he broke into the home.

Michael Wakeman remembers a crowbar to the head, followed by an extensive struggle.

"It was basically pandemonium," he said. "Aimee ran down and screamed at the top of her lungs, 'Are you crazy?'"

Aimee, who had recently broken her arm, used her cast to whack Bruch, who eventually pushed her down. During the melee, Aimee's mother, Cheryl Wakeman, ran to a neighbor's to call 911. The police arrived shortly.

"I actually saw little Aimee come to the door," said Officer William Rush. "I asked her to come out. She started to, but then she turned around and went upstairs."

Aimee would not leave without her then-5-year-old brother, who was hiding in an upstairs bedroom. She escorted him outside the house to safety as officers intervened in the struggle.

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