Aug 23, 2008 10:17 am US/Central
Hammond Cop Beaten Unconscious
HAMMOND, Ind. (Post-Tribune) ―
A nine-year Hammond, Ind. police veteran was hospitalized Friday after being beaten unconscious by an apparently unstable homeless man, who claims to be from south suburban Blue Island, downtown.
Cpl. Tom Sawyer was in stable condition at St. Margaret's hospital, recovering from head injuries apparently inflicted by a 31-year-old man who had flagged down the officer near Sibley Street and Hohman Avenue in Hammond around 1 p.m., Chief Brian Miller said.
Officer Brian Campos, who spotted the 5-foot-10 man stomping and kicking the unconscious Sawyer, then struggled with the attacker and suffered minor shoulder injuries, Miller said.
The suspect and a passer-by who helped Campos subdue the suspect were not injured. The suspect was taken to the city jail and is being held on probable cause for attempted murder.
The man was not identified pending formal charges, which could be filed as soon as today, Miller said.
"Officer Campos just happened to be driving back to the station when he saw Sawyer and intervened," Miller said. "There was no radio call, just when Sawyer said he was stepping out to contact (the suspect).
"I firmly believe officer Campos saved (Sawyer's) life," he added. "We were incredibly lucky."
Sawyer reported a man flagging him down in his marked squad car around 1 p.m. near Sibley Street and Hohman Avenue. The man became increasingly agitated, and apparently lunged at Sawyer when the officer approached him and asked him for identification.
The man knocked Sawyer to the ground and was kicking and stomping Sawyer when Campos arrived. The man told witnesses and Campos to stay away "or I'll kill you, too," Miller said.
"Witnesses said (the suspect) was just a man possessed," the chief said.
Campos fired his Taser at the man, but the jolt did not appear to faze him. The two grappled for several minutes, and Campos was able to handcuff the man with the aid of the passer-by.
The man, who gave his address as Blue Island, Ill., but is believed to be living on the street in Hammond, was calm and polite throughout the booking process, Miller said. The man's criminal record included only a misdemeanor arrest and a handful of traffic tickets.
Sawyer, a longtime police officer, served in the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, Miller said.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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