An Edmonton man has been recognized by police for stepping in to help an officer who was trying to arrest a man last week.
Edmonton Police said Const. Sasa Novakovic, with the EPS Northwest Traffic Unit, was working Wednesday, February 17, when he saw a man and a woman jaywalk across a four-lane road in the area of 111 Avenue and 95A Street during rush hour.
The officer asked the pair to go back to the side of the street they had crossed from.
He approached the pair and asked for their names – but the male suspect, later identified as Gabriel Dumont, wouldn’t respond to the officer’s request, and was told he could be arrested for obstruction. The officer attempted to arrest Dumont, but was assaulted – as the woman Dumont was with fled.
Meanwhile, Eugene DeRose was driving by, and saw the attack. He stopped his car in the road, and ran over to intervene.
At this point, the officer was on the ground – and DeRose was able to hold Dumont down until the officer got back up and put the 193 cm (6’4”) and 127 kg (280 lb) Dumont in handcuffs.
“It was a stranger who risked his life for the police, and my family and myself are truly thankful for Eugene,” Const. Novakovic said.
“He jumped out and placed the person in a headlock, which allowed me to get out from beneath the subject and handcuff him.”
Now, Gabriel William Dumont, 27, is facing charges of obstructing a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, assaulting a peace officer, and was issued a $250 ticket for jaywalking.
Dumont is scheduled to appear in court March 4.
As for the Good Samaritan, Const. Novakovic is nominating DeRose for a Citizen Award through the Edmonton Police Commission.
With files from David Ewasuk
