Patriots striker Justin Herron is being praised as a hero for the role he played in preventing an attempted sexual assault in Arizona over the weekend. Herron was in a park in Tempe on March 20 when a 30-year-old man was seen trying to take advantage of a 71-year-old woman.
Police said the man had dropped the woman on the floor and was trying to remove her pants. Herron, who was working out in the park, heard some screams and knew he needed to do something.
“You see it in movies and on TV all the time, but you never think it will happen in real life until it does,” said Herron, via 12news.com. “At that time, I was in shock. It was 11 am, midday, in a very open field and the fact that it happened there at that time was just very shocking. I wish I could say what I was thinking, but I could simply saying that someone needed help. All I could do was run over there to make sure I could help the victim and comfort him and be the best person I can be. “
Herron was one of the two men who intervened. The other good Samaritan was identified as Murry Rogers. With Herron being the much bigger man – the offensive striker is listed at 6 ft-5 and £ 305 – he ended up holding the suspect until the police arrived.
“I’m a football player, so I’m a bit big. I try not to be too aggressive towards people, knowing that I can hurt someone,” said Herron. “I have a loud voice. I screamed, told him to get off it and then I pulled it out and told him to sit down and I told him to wait until the cops arrived.”
The 25-year-old, who debuted in six of the 12 games he played last season as a rookie, said he helped the woman because he was always taught to do so.
“My parents always talked to me about it: ‘If there is someone in need, be sure to help them and be the best you can be,'” said Herron. “If anyone needs your help, go help him. I never thought it would happen and I don’t want it to happen again.”
The Tempe Police Department gave a press conference on Wednesday, where they honored Herron and Rogers with outstanding service awards.
The crime suspect, Kevin Caballero, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting and attempting to sexually assault a woman.