Ohio Police Officer Thanks Good Samaritan
Dashboard camera catches driver beating police officer during traffic stop.
Dec. 15, 2010 — -- Ohio police officer Jonathan Seiter believes in guardian angels after a good Samaritan helped save him from a driver who attacked him during a routine traffic stop.
"I've had numerous resisting [suspects] and this is the first one where hands on, he was actually trying to kill me," Seiter said.
The dashboard camera from Seiter's police car caught the whole roadside tangle on tape.
On Dec. 11, Seiter stopped 64-year-old Otto Coleman for a burned out headlight. He ordered Coleman to step out of his car.
"I'm telling you, sir, exit the vehicle now," Seiter told Coleman.
As Seiter frisked the driver, the man appears to look around for witnesses. Seeing no one, Coleman grabs Seiter's hands and begins a shoving match that soon escalates.
Coleman reached for Seiter's weapon belt, grabbing for his gun and taser.
Seiter pleads for assistance on his radio. "Give me some help," Seiter is heard screaming on the tape.
The driver pins Seiter to the side of the car. Numerous motorists passed Seiter in the midst of the scuffle, but one woman did not.
"The suspect then decided he didn't want to cooperate and he actually attacked me," Seiter said. "The fight ensued and thank God she appeared."
She is an Ohio woman who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"I heard her go by and she was yelling 'call 911' when she was coming up....she commenced to help me out," Seiter said.
The woman, whose identity has not been revealed to the public, joined in the fight. She formed a tag team with Seiter beating the driver away until another police officer arrived to take Coleman down for good. Police don't recommend everyday citizens do what this woman did.
"I think it's very commendable," Dayton police officer Larry Tolpin told ABC Affiliate WTVG. "Although, don't get me wrong, I'm not endorsing that citizens participate in this manner. But, under this particular circumstance, it was very commendable of her."
Good Samaritan Helps Ohio Police Officer
Meanwhile, the driver who turned violent is facing assault and resisting arrest charges. Coleman, a convicted criminal, has previously faced assault with intent to murder charges.
Seiter knows little about the highway hero who helped him, but he believes that his dead parents acted as guardian angels sending her to help him.
"I would like to say thank you to her," Seiter said.