Cops thank have–a–go hero

A have–a–go hero has been thanked by a police officer after he helped take down a violent criminal.
NMAM 23-8-13 MC 13
Cops have praised Paul Emmerson for tackling a violent criminal to the ground and helping them arrest him.NMAM 23-8-13 MC 13
Cops have praised Paul Emmerson for tackling a violent criminal to the ground and helping them arrest him.
NMAM 23-8-13 MC 13 Cops have praised Paul Emmerson for tackling a violent criminal to the ground and helping them arrest him.

Paul Emmerson, of Wessington, answered an appeal put out by the police in the Mercury to find the man who helped them arrest an offender earlier this month.

The 47–year–old had parked outside the newsagents in Matlock Green to get a news paper on the afternoon of August 1 when he heard shouting from nearby.

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“There was a police officer on the floor holding his head, while also holding onto the leg of the individual, who was demonstrating to another police officer who was telling him to get on the floor,” he said.

The officers had been attempting to arrest the offender, James Porter, 31, of Leacroft, Winster – who had a warrant for his arrest after not attending court over a possession of cannabis charge – when he assaulted one of them and kicked him in head.

Mr Emmerson, who works in social care, approached the scene and asked the other police officer is she was okay, at which point Porter turned to him and started being aggressive.

“It gives me a bit of a twinge when I see someone being abused,” he said.

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“I just approached him, took him to the floor and held his arms.

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“The police officer took one arm. We held him there for a couple of minutes, then more police officers arrived and instead of there being two officers there were about eight.”

Thinking nothing of his heroic actions, he left when the other officers arrived, leaving them no opportunity to thank him for his bravery.

Following the appeal in the paper, Mr Emmerson called the police and spoke to the officer who he had helped.

“He thanked me for my support,” he said.

“It was just something that happened on the spur of the moment – a gut reaction.”

Porter was later found guilty of ABH at Chesterfield Magistrates court.