Good Samaritans Help Raleigh Police Officer Under Attack

Witnesses say Rudolph Sanders was standing underneath an awning at the business complex near Capital Boulevard when Officer Jonathan D. Koeppen told him that he was trespassing.

According to witnesses, when Sanders became unruly, Koeppen pepper-sprayed him.

Afterward, Sanders allegedly assaulted Koeppen.

"He hit the officer a couple of times in the face, and when he hit the wet pavement, the officer slipped," witness Greg Boren said.

That is when a couple of ordinary citizens turned Good Samaritan and came to Koeppen's aid.

A.J. was the first to help out. She ran out of a nearby business, grabbed Sanders and put him in a headlock.

"I just reacted," Adcox said. "There was an officer in the water, in the rain and I jumped on the guy without thinking."

Then Boren, watching the incident from his office window, came out to help Adcox handcuff Sanders, using Koeppen's handcuffs.

Sanders was later taken into custody. He will be charged with trespassing, resisting, delaying and obstructing arrest and felony assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon. He is currently being held on $500,000 bond.

Koeppen, who had dislocated both of his shoulders, was taken to WakeMed. He is listed in good condition.