The worst feeling in the world is when you are walking down the street minding your own business, and someone comes up to punch you. That was what happened to 60-year-old Maria Thomas on Thursday evening, but she got lucky because four firefighters witnessed it happen and immediately chased after her attacker, tackling him to the ground before anyone could get hurt.
The events happened on Wednesday, January 15th, around 1:30 p.m. Police were called to an incident at East 13th and Euclid in Cleveland, where they found the 60-year-old woman with injuries from being punched by a man on a bike. Luckily, the heroic firefighters chased him down and held him until police arrived, but he was able to break free and escape, but less than a quarter of a mile away, he was caught again, this time by the officers of the East Cleveland Police Department who were called to assist with the incident. The 60-year-old woman was taken to hospital with severe injuries, but it could have been even worse if not for these firefighters. The suspect was identified as 24-year old Eric Hartwell of Cleveland Heights. He was then held on a $25,000 bond at Cuyahoga County Jail, and he pleaded ‘not guilty to assault charges.
The incident is still under investigation, and police are looking for additional witnesses who can help out with the case. This incident serves as an example of how dangerous bike riders really can be on roads, especially when they decide to punch pedestrians or even cause them bodily harm. Be careful around bike riders if you see one because you never know what they are capable of doing.
