Citizens defend attacked officer, Passers-by restrain assailant, call for help.

[CTR man]

You guys will all like this one. I am so glad that there are people in my area that are willing to step into harms way and help out a LEO, when needed, very likely saving his life.

We have lost one in 2004.

Ofc. Stephan Gray, Merced PD.

We have lost one in 2005.

Sgt. Howard Stevenson, Ceres PD.

We have lost one in 2006.

Ofc. Earl Scott, CHP.

We do not need to lose any more LEO'S to being shot by scumbag dopers, gang members, or other idiots with their own agendas.

Citizens defend attacked officer
Passers-by restrain assailant, call for help

By THOMAS PARDEE
tpardee@modbee.com

Last Updated: July 25, 2007, 10:02:42 AM PDT

Fortunately for one Modesto police sergeant, Douglas Felt isn't afraid to get involved.

"I'm a retired Marine," said the 57-year-old Felt, a Vietnam veteran. "It's in my blood."

When Felt saw Sgt. Ray Coyle struggling with a suspect near Orangeburg and Collier avenues Monday, he said it was this lack of fear that made him tell his sister to pull over so that he could help the officer.

Then he saw the gun.

"He had the barrel pushed into (Coyle's) stomach," Felt said. "He was ready to shoot him. It took about a half a second for me to think, 'I have to knock this guy out.' "

That's exactly what Felt did. Witnesses and officials say that just as the accused attacker, 21-year-old Baylen Russell of Modesto, managed to wrestle Coyle's gun from its holster, Felt struck him, hoping to knock him out. Instead, Felt said, he had to hit Russell repeatedly and eventually trap him in a chokehold before he was able to get him off of Coyle.

Karitza Saldivar, 29, who witnessed the attack and retrieved Coyle's nightstick and glasses, which had been knocked away in the scuffle, said Russell was "like an animal" as he attacked the sergeant.

"He was growling — I don't know how else to say it," said Saldivar, who lives two houses from where the attack took place. "He was either really mentally ill, or on methamphetamines."

More passers-by had stopped to help Felt before Russell was handcuffed. One woman used Coyle's radio to call for help. Police units responded and arrested Russell. He was later booked at county jail on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer.

Coyle was responding to a report of a disturbance on the 1400 block of Nelson Avenue, just west of Sunrise Avenue. At 3:22 p.m., Coyle saw a man near Orangeburg and Collier avenues who matched the description of the person from the disturbance, which was about a block away, police spokesman Mike Amarillas said.

Coyle stopped his patrol car near the man and tried to question him. That's when the man attacked.

While no one was seriously hurt in Monday's altercation, all involved realized it could have had tragic results.

"People don't just reach for a gun without the intent of using it," Saldivar said.

The woman who called for help on the officer's radio used the words "officer down." Hearing this, said Assistant Police Chief Mike Harden, can be terrifying for responding police officers.

"It's a call we all dread," he said. "We don't know what we're getting ourselves into when we get there. What will I find? Is the suspect still armed? … We respond as quickly as we can, and try to bring the situation to an end safely."

It isn't just the officer's safety that becomes a concern during an attack, either.

"If a suspect is willing to attack an officer, how much greater risk is he to the general public?" said Bill Heyne, undersheriff for the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.

Heyne said he and his department are thankful to Felt and the other citizens who went out of their way to assist Coyle.

"There are people out there who will get involved and say, 'This is my community, and here is an individual trying to protect me, my family and my way of life, and this is happening to him — I'm going to get involved,' " Heyne said. "If (Russell) had managed to get the officer's gun and started shooting, who knows what could have happened?"

Harden said the altercation ended well because citizens were willing to help — but unfortunately, he said it isn't a common occurrence.

"One of the things that is a concern of mine here and in a lot of communities is apathy," Harden said. "The idea that, 'It's not my job to get involved.' That's your officer out there — he's protecting you and me. He's making our community safer."

Bee staff writer Thomas Pardee can be reached at tpardee@modbee.com or 578-2324.

[countybear]

Welcome a sheepdog who saw a need, and abruptly came out of retirement. He defended another sheepdog, and inspired the sheep into action as well.

This is a trend that could catch on. I certainly hope it does.

This is "community policing", people. Its not warm and fuzzy, its when the "community" gets involved for its own good.

For the offender:

Hey sh!tbag! You got...

[Illiy]

That is awesome... glad there was a good out come... that bastard deserves to rot in jail....

[tapout]

that sounds oddly familiar

[Beans]

Harden said the altercation ended well because citizens were willing to help — but unfortunately, he said it isn't a common occurrence.

It was nice to read a story like this. Too bad the above statement is all to real.

[kjlaw]

Nice story

[Cheech]

Shit I never want to hear a citizen on the police radio. That has got to be eerie. Glad the cops ok and the people stepped in! sounds like this guy needed to catch a bullet

[Ianl6]

Now that just shows that there are some honest Joes out there who seeing an officer in distress are willing and able to give aid to the police officer.Well done to the men who cared enough to help.

[Tuff]

Absolutely AWESOME!!!!! I'm glad to hear that it had a good ending ....

Speaking of Community Policing, Tuesdauy was National Night Out...