Police officer says Scott Burdick saved him during struggle with a suspect.
By Sue Weibezahl, The Syracuse Post-Standard
A Syracuse man screeched his company van to a halt and jumped out to help a city police officer when he saw the officer chasing and then fighting with a suspect, police said.
“It was a battle royale,” said Sgt. Tom Connellan of the altercation that developed after Officer Chad Lynch tried to issue a ticket to James Mosher last week.
Scott Burdick, a plumbing repairman, called his involvement “no big deal. I was just in the right place at the right time to help. You don’t see a police officer in trouble and not do anything.”
Burdick and Lynch struggled with Mosher for several minutes, as Mosher flailed, kicked and threatened to shoot them.
“My husband is a flag-waving, apple-pie-eating, hard-core American,” Joyce Burdick said later. “He’s bursting with pride about this country and our society needs more people like him to get involved and do what they can do.”
Mosher, 21, of 24 Caton Drive, Apt. 28, had been in the 2000 block of East Fayette Street, playing a radio at high volume, police said.
Lynch said he pulled his patrol car over around 9 a.m. Friday to talk to Mosher about the noise and Mosher took off running. Lynch said he chased him through the Rolling Green apartment complex and continued after him toward Westmoreland Avenue, then toward Erie Boulevard East.
Lynch said he caught up with the suspect when Mosher lost his footing running down a hill and landed on his chest. Lynch ran up behind him and grabbed Mosher’s shirt. Mosher pushed away with such force the shirt ripped off and he ran again, with Lynch close behind.
At about that time, Burdick was coming around the corner in his van and saw Lynch chasing Mosher.
In his statement to police, Burdick said he immediately pulled over to block Mosher’s path. Mosher ran into the side of the van Burdick was driving.
When Lynch cornered Mosher against the van, Mosher kneed him in the groin and started punching his head, Burdick said.
“He’s yelling to get off him so he could go get his gun. I’m struggling with the guy,” Lynch said. “The fight’s on and it’s all or nothing.”
Burdick jumped out of his van and tackled Mosher around the legs.
Mosher reportedly kept reaching for his front pocket and threatening to shoot the two, but Burdick repeatedly knocked his arm back, Lynch said.
“If he hadn’t been there, I would have gotten my butt kicked,” Lynch said of Burdick. “People call police officers heroes. I’m no hero. Scott Burdick is.”
Most people would have kept on driving, a few might have stopped so they could be a witness, Lynch said. “I’ve been doing this eight years now and I’ve never, ever, ever had a civilian step up and help me. This guy blocked the suspect’s path, got out of his van, got physically involved and stayed physically involved, even though there was mention of a gun.”
The two continued to struggle with Mosher, trying to get handcuffs on him. Other officers arrived to help and Mosher was taken into custody.
Police did not find a gun in the area, but officers said they found $1,200 worth of cocaine, some marijuana and Ecstasy pills in Mosher’s pockets.
He was charged with felony assault, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, loitering and sound reproduction for the loud radio.
Lynch returned to work Tuesday after being off several days with hand injuries.
“I’m just glad the officer’s all right,” Burdick said Wednesday, “and glad we could both go home to our children.”