Patriots Justin Herron Helps Stop Sexual Assault In Arizona

TEMPE, AZ — Patriots offensive lineman Justin Herron was honored by the Tempe, Arizona police department after intervening to stop an attempted sexual assault on a 71-year-old woman over the weekend.

Herron and Tempe resident Murray Rogers were recognized by Tempe police Wednesday after the two stopped the assault at Kiwanis Park on Saturday morning.

According to police, Kevin Caballero, 30, was in the park when he shoved the elderly woman to the ground, held her down and tried to take off her pants. Herron said he was walking around the park as part of a light workout when he heard the woman scream, and from there his instincts kicked in.

Herron stepped in and along with Rogers, detained Caballero until police arrived.

"I’m a football player, so I’m kind of a big," Herron told reporters during the ceremony. "I try not to be too aggressive knowing that I could hurt somebody. I do have a very loud voice, so I yelled and told him to get off of her. I yanked him off and told him to sit down."

The woman suffered minor injuries and was treated for emotional trauma following the attack, police said. Herron and Rogers met the woman Wednesday and called the men "her angels," Rogers said. Still, Herron said he doesn't consider himself a hero and just did what he hoped anyone would do.

"My parents always talk to me about and just say like, 'If there's someone in need, make sure you can help them. Be the best you can be, and if someone needs your help, go help them,'" Herron said. "I never thought this would happen. I don't want it to happen again. I don't want to have to save someone else's life again, but I'm glad that I was able to save someone like on Saturday."