Patriots’ Justin Herron honored by Tempe PD for stopping attempted sexual assault

The New England Patriots’ reserve offensive tackle was hailed a hero by Tempe police for stopping an attempted sexual assault.

The main stories around the NFL have been free agency signings, the new 11-year broadcasting deal and the announced plans for the 2021 draft. But here is one piece of news that needs attention.

On Wednesday, New England Patriots offensive tackle Justin Herron was one of two men honored with the Outstanding Service Award by the Tempe Police Department in Arizona for helping stop an attempted sexual assault this past Saturday. A 30-year-old man pushed a 71-year-old woman to the ground at Kiwanis Park, police say. Herron and Rogers intervened and detained the man until police arrived.

“We are here to honor two good Samaritans that intervened during this vicious attack and detained the suspect until police could arrive and make sure that he was taken into custody,” Detective Natalie Barela of the Tempe Police Department said at a news conference, via ESPN. “If not for the swift actions of Mr. Justin Herron and Mr. Murry Rogers, this vicious attack could’ve been much worse.”

Patriots: Justin Herron hailed hero for preventing an attempted sexual assault

Herron, a 2020 sixth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest, said he was walking around the park at 11 a.m. that day, as he was in town to do some offseason training. Once Herron heard the woman scream, he sprung into action, along with Rogers, to stop the crime and to ensure her safety.

“I’m a football player, I’m kind of big. I try not to be too aggressive with people knowing I could potentially hurt somebody,” Herron said at the press conference, via ESPN. “I do have a loud voice. I yelled, told him to get off of her and then yanked him off and I told him to sit down and I told him to wait until the cops come.”

Herron is listed at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds on the Patriots’ official website. He played in 12 games in his rookie season and started in six.

The woman suffered minor injuries and was treated for emotional trauma, per the police, via AZCentral.com. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Kevin Caballero is being held on $500,000 bond and is facing charges of kidnapping and attempt to commit sexual assault.