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WATCH: Bystander Body Slams Man Who Attacked Utah Police Officer
Body camera footage shows a man reaching for an officer's gun and punching the officer in the head before running off. The video shows the dramatic ending when two bystanders jump in to help the officer arrest the man.
It was Tuesday when Officer Austin Williams went to the Sam's Club in Provo, Utah to conduct a welfare check. Police got calls that a disoriented man was walking around asking people for water in the parking lot. While welfare checks typically amount to nothing this one escalated quickly.
Officer Williams explained the moments when he first approached the man. "He kind of looked at me and waved me off and I said do you need some water," Senior Provo Police Department Officer Austin Williams said.
That's when the man, who we now know is Emiliano Medina, turned back.
"He quickly pointed at my side and made a gun motion with his hand and pointed it at his head," Williams said. That's when the officer says the man stepped toward him, reaching for his gun.
Williams said he lunged toward Medina but he ran around him and started running through the gas pumps. That's when a man in a white t-shirt near the pumps takes action. "Right as he's catching up to the guy another guy comes around and kind of gets in his way and shoulder checks him and stops him," Williams said. Then the other man took Medina to the ground.
"I was like holy cow that was NFL hardest hits kind of stuff," Williams said. Had it not been for these men, Officer Williams likely wouldn't have been able to catch Medina because backup wasn't on the way.
It was Tuesday when Officer Austin Williams went to the Sam's Club in Provo, Utah to conduct a welfare check. Police got calls that a disoriented man was walking around asking people for water in the parking lot. While welfare checks typically amount to nothing this one escalated quickly.
Officer Williams explained the moments when he first approached the man. "He kind of looked at me and waved me off and I said do you need some water," Senior Provo Police Department Officer Austin Williams said.
That's when the man, who we now know is Emiliano Medina, turned back.
"He quickly pointed at my side and made a gun motion with his hand and pointed it at his head," Williams said. That's when the officer says the man stepped toward him, reaching for his gun.
Williams said he lunged toward Medina but he ran around him and started running through the gas pumps. That's when a man in a white t-shirt near the pumps takes action. "Right as he's catching up to the guy another guy comes around and kind of gets in his way and shoulder checks him and stops him," Williams said. Then the other man took Medina to the ground.
"I was like holy cow that was NFL hardest hits kind of stuff," Williams said. Had it not been for these men, Officer Williams likely wouldn't have been able to catch Medina because backup wasn't on the way.
