Mar 25, 2009 4:39 pm US/Eastern
Judge Saves Woman From Courtroom Beating
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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Broward Judge Ian Richards jumps the bench to help woman being attacked by domestic violence suspect.
CBS
Some quick action by a Broward County judge was caught on courtroom surveillance video when a domestic violence suspect tried to attack a woman in court.
"He aimed right for my temple, he did hit me in the temple two or three times, I'm like 'okay, this man really wanted to kill me'," said Nicole Word.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office Judge Ian Richards had just ordered John Reasee, 29, to jail for violating a domestic restraining order to stay away from Word. On hearing that he was being placed in custody, Reasee ran over to Word and started hitting her. Two court deputies quickly jumped into restrain Reasee. Judge Richards hit the court panic button and then went flying around his bench, his judicial robe flying like the caped crusader, to separate Word from Reasee.
"I thought of Batman, he flew. He was trying to hit me and I seen the cape and I'm like, 'he's here', I'm like 'wow', this never happens. I've never seen a judge jump to help the victim," said Word.
Four Lauderhill police officers, who were in the hallway outside the courtroom at the time, intervened and helped the bailiff restrain Reasee.
"She could have sustained serious injury if he (Richardson) hadn't intervened, being that he's 5 foot 11 and almost 200 pounds and he's pumped up with pure anger, he did an outstanding job by assisting," said Lauderhill police officer Adam Wilson.
Word agrees. "Thank God he was there, if not, he would have killed me."
Reasee, who was charged with domestic violence, now faces new charges of resisting arrest and domestic battery.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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