By Police1 Staff
BREMERTON, Wash. — Two men saw an officer being violently beaten by a suspect and jumped in to help.
KOMO news reported that Officer Spencer Berntsen was responding a report of a man who smashed a Jack in the Box window Wednesday.
When Berntsen arrived, suspect Kenneth Lane became frustrated and attacked the officer.
“He got on the ground, then got up and that’s when I tried to deploy the TASER,” Berntsen told the news station. “He literally blew cigarette smoke in my face and said, ‘Let’s go.’”
Berntsen said he deployed his TASER, but it malfunctioned.
Two bystanders witnessed the struggle and came to Berntsen’s aid.
“What I saw was somebody who was just viciously attacking somebody,” bystander Kelly Bounds said.
After a violent suspect attacks a @BremertonPD officer, a good samaritan jumps in to help. See the officer/citizen reunion too. #komonews pic.twitter.com/nFlUc9e03C
— Neil Ikeda (@NeilKOMOTV) November 18, 2016
Police Chief Steve Strachan and Officer Berntsen thanked the bystanders, saying the encounter could have taken a different turn if they hadn’t stepped in.
“It’s about helping others in a time of need, whether it’s opening a door for somebody or pushing that wheelchair across the street,” Bounds said. “If we can help each other, it’s the most important thing that life can give is helping one another.”
Berntsen suffered minor injuries, but is back on the job, KOMO reported.
“I’m very thankful to work in a city and town where I get this much support,” Berntsen said.
WATCH: @BremertonPD Ofc thanks Good Samaritan who helped him during assault while responding to a call. More on @komonews at 6. pic.twitter.com/wyWLnBGOJq
— Kristen Drew (@KDrewKOMO) November 18, 2016