By Police1 Staff
UTICA, N.Y. — A Utica police officer is crediting two civilians for saving his life during a scuffle with a suspect.
The Utica Observer-Dispatch reports Officer John Lomonico responded to an alarm going off at a residence Thursday and witnessed a man’s legs sticking out of the home’s window.
The man – 43-year-old Ronald Flagg – was wielding a crow bar and fled as Officer Lomonico attempted to take him into custody.
Officer Lomonico tackled Flagg after a foot pursuit and began struggling with him on the ground.
Passerby Stanley Markis witnessed the battle and noticed Flagg was carrying a handgun, according to the report.
Markis stepped in – attempting to grab the gun which then fell on the ground. Markis was able to kick the weapon away from Flagg as he attempted to retrieve it.
Flagg then went for Officer Lomonico’s weapon, when a second civilian, Jack Carter, jumped in to help subdue the suspect.
Officer Lomonico was treated for a knee injury in the incident and credits the pair of Good Samaritans for preventing a bad situation from becoming far worse.
Flagg was charged with felony possession of a weapon, two counts of felony attempted possession of a weapon, felony possession of stolen property, and misdemeanor resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration, according to the report.