56-YEAR-OLD HEROIC BLACK WOMAN JUMPS ON BACK OF ASSAILANT TO HELP WHITE COP BEING WHACKED WITH HIS OWN BATON

'She is a true hero': Good Samaritan bravely comes to the rescue of a Louisiana police officer being beaten with his own baton and JUMPS on the suspect's back until back-up arrives

Associated Press and Ariel Zilber for Daily Mail
February 21, 2017

A Louisiana woman is being hailed as a hero after police say she saw an officer struggling with a suspect and jumped on the man's back to help the officer subdue him.

Vickie Williams-Tillman, 56, was driving to a store Sunday morning, with gospel music on her radio, when she spotted the Baton Rouge officer, Billy Aime, and the suspect, according to The Advocate.

Baton Rouge Police spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely says the suspect grabbed the officer's baton and repeatedly bashed him on the head with it, and also tried to grab the officer's gun.

Police say that after Williams-Tillman jumped on the man's back, police backup arrived and the suspect was apprehended after being shot with a stun gun.

Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome called the woman a courageous hero.

The incident occurred just before 8:00am on Sunday, when a 44-year-old police officer found the suspect, 28-year-old Thomas Bennett, asleep in his car.

The officer allegedly noticed drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

When the officer approached Bennett's car to make an arrest, Bennett is alleged to have become violent.

Bennett allegedly grabbed the officer's baton and began hitting him over the head.

He also took the officer's flashlight and radio, according to the arrest report.

Bennett also allegedly reached for the officer's gun.

‘[Maybe an] angel, whatever it was…God was watching down on both of us and told her to stop,’ Aime told WAFB.

Seeing the scuffle unfold, Williams-Tillman initially pulled up alongside the police officer, rolled down the window, and asked if he needed help.

When the officer didn't respond, Williams-Tillman 'locked eyes' with him and realized that he could not speak.

That is when she sprung into action. She called 911 and notified the police that an officer needed help.

Immediately afterward, police say that she stepped out of her car and jumped on Bennett's back, helping to subdue him.

The officer said that Williams-Tillman may have saved his life.

‘Next thing I knew she was pulling the suspect’s hand off of my gun,’ Aime said.

‘Without her stopping, I can’t tell you what the outcome would have been.’

'I could see in [the officer's] eyes he needed help,' said Williams-Tillman.

'You don't have time to think about it … I did what God needed me to do.'

'It was something that went through my soul,' she said. 'You don't think about the risk.'

More police arrived as backup and took the suspect into custody.

Bennett faces charges including aggravated battery, disarming a police officer, battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and drug possession.

A spokesperson for the Baton Rouge Police Department said the officer suffered injuries to his head.

'Vickie Williams-Tillman epitomizes the true Good Samaritan,' Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome said in a statement.

'She reached out and offered a courageous and unconditional response to the officer. Ms. Williams-Tillman is a hero and demonstrates the true meaning of loving God and loving your neighbor.'

The BRPD hailed Williams-Tillman on its Facebook page, posting a message of thanks that generated over 7,000 likes and 2,100 shares.

For a special #BRPDSalutes today we want to thank a very special lady.

'Early this morning one of our officers performed a traffic stop just before 8am in the 8400 block of Harry Drive, finding drugs in the man's vehicle,' the BRPD wrote.

'Our officer tried to secure the man in handcuffs when the driver became aggressive. The 28-year-old man, grabbed the officer's baton and used it to repeatedly hit the officer in the head.'

'As the officer struggled with his assailant, 56-year-old Vickie Williams-Tillman saw that our officer needed help.'

'Ms. Williams-Tillman immediately called for more police but then went so much further.'

'Risking her own safety she jumped out of her vehicle and onto the back of the 28-year old assailant. Ms. Williams-Tillman was able to help hold off the assailant until other officers arrived.'

'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!'

EDITOR’S NOTE: Wow, this 56-year-old black lady risked her life to save a white cop’s ass. I’ll bet she is not a member of Black Lives Matter.

Vickie Williams-Tillman is a true hero and deserves a salute not only from BRPD, but from every law abiding American.