Justin Herron encountered a 71-year-old woman being attacked from behind by a 30-year-old man. Herron along with Phoenix resident Murry Rodgers helped separate the assaulter and restrain him till the police arrived.
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A 30-year-old man named Kevin Caballero has been arrested. Herron and Rogers were honoured by the Tempe Police Department in a Wednesday press conference, in which the authorities were able to give an update on the victim’s condition. Herron said he never expected to find himself in such a situation, but knew he had to act.
Patriots reserve OT Justin Herron was honored as a hero on Wednesday for helping stop a sexual assault in a park four days earlier.
Herron & a second man, Murry Rogers, intervened when they saw a 71-year-old woman being attacked & detained the suspect until police could arrive. pic.twitter.com/7PClY0QuGm
— ESPN (@espn) March 24, 2021
Tempe PD presented awards to two men, including @Patriots offensive lineman Justin Herron, credited for stopping a sexual assault in a Tempe park on Saturday. https://t.co/z1LkHkmE9b
— 12 News (@12News) March 24, 2021
Justin Herron spoke about the incident
“At that moment, I was in shock,” Herron said, via 12 News in Tempe. “It was 11 a.m., middle of the day, in a very open field and the fact that it happened there at that time was just very shocking. I wish I could tell you what I was thinking, but I could just tell someone needed help. All I could do was rush myself over there to make sure I could help the victim and I could comfort her and be the best person I can be.”
“I’m a football player, so I’m kind of big. I try not to be too aggressive with people knowing I could potentially hurt somebody,” Herron said. “I do have a loud voice. So I yelled, told him to get off of her and then yanked him off and I told him to sit down and I told him to wait until the cops come.”
Patriots’ Justin Herron Talks About Breaking Up An Attempted Sexual Assault Over The Weekend: https://t.co/ug4IpmjfSq pic.twitter.com/hdGA19hvpZ
— WBZ Boston Sports (@wbzsports) March 24, 2021
Herron also got to meet the victim that he saved was said he was glad she was safe. “I never thought in a thousand years that I would see her ever again, and a part of me was a little bit upset that didn’t ask for a name just so I could just know the name,” Herron said. “It was heartwarming to see her, but also gut-wrenching to see how she responded to the trauma and how she’s dealing with it. No one should go through that.
