UPDATED: Woman credited with saving BRPD officer during attack

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Vickie Williams-Tillman was on her way to Sam's Club and Walmart early Sunday morning, listening to gospel music, when she noticed a police officer struggling with a man on the side of Harry Drive.

She rolled down her window to ask if the officer needed help, but she couldn't hear him respond. She did, however, lock eyes with him.

"I could see in his eyes he needed help," said Williams-Tillman. "You don't have time to think about it … I did what God needed me to do."

And what Williams-Tillman did — jumping on the attacker's back until more police arrived — has many in the community, including the mayor, hailing the 56-year-old as a hero.

"Vickie Williams-Tillman epitomizes the true Good Samaritan, Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome said in a statement. "She reached out and offered a courageous and unconditional response to the officer. Ms. Williams-Tillman is a hero and demonstrates the true meaning of loving God and loving your neighbor."

Williams-Tillman said she didn't hesitate to help. "It was something that went through my soul," she said. "You don't think about the risk."

The 44-year-old officer, whose name has not been released, had found the man asleep in his vehicle just before 8 a.m. in the 8400 block of Harry Drive, seeing drug paraphernalia visible, according to the arrest report. As the man, 28-year-old Thomas Bennett, exited from his vehicle, he became aggressive, said Baton Rouge Police spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely. Bennett, of Albany, grabbed the officer's baton and used it to repeatedly hit the officer in the head, McKneely said.

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BATON ROUGE - A Baton Rouge Police officer was rushed to the hospital after he was attacked during a traffic stop on Harry Drive Sunday morning.

According to BRPD, the officer was conducting a routine traffic stop around 7:50 a.m. in the 8400 block of Harry Drive when the driver became combative.

The suspect reportedly grabbed the officer's baton and began striking the officer in the head with the baton, BRPD said.

During the incident, a good Samaritan woman noticed the situation and contacted authorities.

The woman then stepped in to assist the officer and jumped on the suspects back in an attempt to stop the attack. She was able to hold off the suspect from further injuring the officer until responding officers arrived to the scene. The suspect was then tasered by police and detained.

All three individuals involved were transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital with minor injuries.

Witnesses told a WBRZ reporter on Harry Drive that shortly after sunrise there was a large police presence on the street.

WBRZ.com is working to get more information from authorities. Check back for updates.

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