HOUSTON --
A woman helped a Houston police officer who was struggling with a man in North Houston early Wednesday.
The officer was patrolling the area on the North Loop at Airline Drive about midnight. Police said it is a section of North Houston known for drugs and prostitution.
Investigators said the officer confronted a man who was jaywalking and acting suspiciously. The officer told detectives that the man leaped at him and tried to take his gun.
"The individual actually leaped at the officer and attacked him first, grabbing at the officer's Taser and then at his pistol," Lt. J.R. Chase said.
Chase said a woman then came to the officer's aide.
"The officer was fighting to retain the weapon when a passer-by, a female, actually jumped on the suspect's back and was able to help hold the suspect off long enough until other patrol units arrived," Chase said.
Additional officers arrived at the scene and arrested the man, identified as 43-year-old Clarence Lydell Harvey. Police said Harvey would face charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and disarming a police officer.
The officer was treated at the hospital for injuries to his hand. He is expected to recover.
The woman did not want to be identified. She said she's just glad the officer is OK.
Stephanie McPhereson applauded the civilian who helped the officer.
"She's pretty brave," McPhereson said. "I don't think it would have been me. I think I would have walked away from that one."
Police said they found an empty pill bottle in Harvey's possession. Investigators are checking to see if he was under the influence of anything at the time of the attack.
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