KEYMAR, Md. — Two motorists stopped to help a Carroll County Sheriff's deputy who was struggling to take a suspect into custody on Sunday.
It happened around 11:09 am on Rt 194-Francis Scott Key Highway, in Keymar.
Deputy Etzler saw a Honda Civic driving toward oncoming traffic, trying to get by another car in a no passing zone.
The deputy made a u-turn and pulled the car over.
Immediately after being stopped, the Sheriff's office says 24-year-old Joseph Russo got out of his car and approached deputy Etzler in a so called, "defiant and belligerent" manner.
Etzler then reportedly tried detaining Russo, at which point he became more aggressive and allegedly struck the deputy.
The scuffle led to a struggle on the ground.
Two passing motorists saw this and stopped to help. They held Russo until deputy Etzler was able to handcuff and get him into the back of a police cruiser.
"We are thankful to the two individuals who took action when they saw a deputy in need," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Deputy Etzler was treated at a hospital and later released.
Russo now faces a slew of charges including first and second degree assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and failure to obey a lawful order.
