New England Patriots reserve offensive attack Justin Herron was honored as a hero by the Tempe Police Department (Arizona) on Wednesday for helping to prevent an attempted sexual assault in a park four days earlier.
Police said a 30-year-old suspect was seen on Saturday pushing a 71-year-old retired teacher to the ground. That was when Herron and a second man, Murry Rogers, intervened.
Herron, a pick from Wake Forest’s sixth round of 2020 who played 12 games last season (six matches), has been training in Arizona.
“We are here to honor two good Samaritans who intervened during this violent attack and detained the suspect until the police could arrive and ensure that he was taken into custody,” Tempe Police Department detective Natalie Barela told a news conference. . “If it weren’t for the quick actions of Mr. Justin Herron and Mr. Murry Rogers, this cruel attack could have been much worse.”
Police chief Jeff Glover said, “The impact they have had on our victim’s life; these two individuals have stepped forward and really saved his life.”
Barela said the victim experienced “a significant amount of trauma, but she is working on some of these things and physically well”.
Herron, 25, and Rogers were presented with an “Outstanding Citizen” certificate by the police at a news conference on Wednesday. Herron said he heard screams in the park and reacted.
“You see it in movies and on TV all the time, but you never think it will happen in real life until it does. At that time, I was in shock,” said Herron.
“It was 11 o’clock in the middle of the day, no clouds in the sky and in a very open field. The fact that it happened there, at that time, was very shocking. I was thinking. I just knew that someone needed help. All I could do was hurry up there to make sure I could help the victim and make sure I could comfort him and be the best person I can be. “
Herron, who is 6 feet 6 inches and broke the record for Wake Forest with 51 games started in his college career, said his size helped.
“I’m a football player, so I’m a bit big,” said Herron. “I try not to be too aggressive towards people knowing that I could hurt someone. I have a very loud voice, so all I did was just scream, tell him to get off it and then I pulled it out. And I said to him to sit and wait until the cops arrive. “
Police said the victim has since met Herron and Rogers and “there was not a dry eye in the room”.