CORNER BROOK — Police are crediting a Good Samaritan with putting a stop to an assault they say could have gotten worse late Friday night.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary received a call of a domestic disturbance at a residence on Woodbine Avenue in the Curling area of Corner Brook shortly before midnight.
When police arrived, a man had subdued 20-year-old Justin Thomas Warren.
Through the subsequent investigation, it was revealed the man had been passing by the residence when he noticed an incident involving Warren and a female relative of his.
According to the RNC, Warren had allegedly assaulted the woman and the passerby was compelled to intervene. The man who stepped in was also allegedly assaulted by Warren, but he managed to hold Warren until police arrived.
"He went above and beyond," Sgt. Brad Saint of the RNC said Saturday afternoon. "As a police agency, we are convinced that, if he didn't intervene, the injury to the victim would have been far more severe.
"He received some injury himself, but he stopped any further incident from occurring and he is to be commended."
Warren was charged with two counts of assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats and with mischief for allegedly causing damage to the property where the incident took place. He was also charged with escaping lawful custody when he tried to flee once police told him he was under arrest.
"There was a short pursuit on foot, at which point he was apprehended," said Saint, noting Warren had not yet been handcuffed when he bolted.
Alcohol was a factor in the incident, according to Saint.
Warren has also been charged with breaching an undertaking he was subject to at the time of the incident.
He made a brief appearance before a provincial court judge Saturday and was remanded into custody until a bail hearing in provincial court in Corner Brook today.
