Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Gene Kennedy reportingA police officer is injured this morning while responding to a robbery at a Salt Lake cleaners.
The officer caught the robber, but was assaulted in the process. The tables were turned as a citizen came to the aid of the police officer.
Kevin Winston, Citizen who helped: "I just thank God I was there to help him out. This is my neighborhood. This is where I live. Anything I can do to keep my neighborhood clean, I'm gonna do it so."
The robber almost got the police officer's gun during a violent encounter that took place after an aggressive robbery at the cleaning business.
Salt Lake City police say a 36 year-old man walked in the door of Century Cleaners Barn at 7:30 this morning and demanded money. Police say he assaulted an employee to get it.
Florence Young, Cleaner Employee: "He pushed her down and sat on her. (reporter: "And sat on her and threatened her with a knife?") He said 'I've got a knife', then pulled a knife out."
He forced the employee to open the register. When the robber took off with cash, the employee called 911. Moments later, a police officer spotted the suspect just down the block from the cleaner's.
The police officer saw the suspect and confronted him. That's when the fight began. At one point it appeared the suspect had the upper hand.
Kevin Winston, Citizen who helped: "The police officer had the guy down on the ground, and (the suspect) had his hand on the officer's gun, and hollered 'I got your gun.'"
Enter Kevin Winston. He saw the attack on his way to a coffee shop. He jumped in to help without hesitating.
Kevin Winston, Citizen who helped: "I grabbed the guy's hands and spread them out, so that the officer could get better control of him. And it happened just that quick."
Det. Robin Snyder, Salt Lake City Police: "Who know what would have happened if he didn't show up. We just don't know. We're just really glad he showed up. We are really grateful."
The police officer suffered some serious injuries to the face. The suspect will face harsher charges as a result: Aggravated assault on a police officer in addition to the robbery charge.
