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 found 28-year-old Thomas Bennett sleeping in a parked vehicle around 7:50 a.m. in the 8400 block of Harry Drive. The officer noticed drug paraphernalia in the car and conducted a search of the vehicle.
After the officer recovered multiple syringes and a baggy of cocaine, Bennett suddenly attacked the officer.
Bennett reportedly grabbed the officer's baton and began striking the officer in the head with the baton. He also grab the officer's firearm and attempted to remove it from the holster.
During the incident, 56-year old Vickie Williams-Tillman noticed the situation and contacted authorities.
The Williams-Tillman 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 Bennett from further injuring the officer until responding officers arrived to the scene. He was then tasered by police and detained.
All three individuals involved were transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital with minor injuries.
Bennett was booked on charges of aggravated battery, disarming a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police publicly thanked Williams-Tillman Sunday night in a Facebook post.
"For going above and beyond in that moment to help our officer and possibly save his life we are forever grateful to you Ms. Vickie! For showing so much love and concern for one of our officers BRPDSalutes you," the post read.