Officer of the Year attacked by angry mob while trying to help assault victim (VIDEO)

A Nashville officer responding to a call about a domestic assault and possible shots fired at a public housing complex Tuesday evening was met by an angry crowd, some of who attacked him, while others cheered the assailants on and recorded the event with cell phones.

Matthew Cammarn, who was named the 2015 Metro Nashville Police Officer of the Year for saving the life of a gunshot victim, arrived at the complex around 6:00 p.m. While the officer was alone at the time, he witnessed the suspect, Brian Shannon, 22, assault the female victim in the middle of the street, so he moved in to make an arrest.

However, Shannon refused to comply with Cammarn’s orders and instead knocked the officer to the ground and began punching him. At that point, the crowd gathered around the brawl and at least two other people stepped in and assaulted the officer. Those two individuals can be seen in cell phone video pulling on Cammarn, and one person kicks him while he is on the ground.

Shannon eventually got away and ran off, as onlookers are heard in the video yelling, “Run! Run!”

But Cammarn caught up to Shannon, who was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault on an officer, resisting arrest, evading arrest, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and drug possession. A second suspect, who is 17 years old, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and evading arrest. It’s unclear if the third suspect was found.

Cammarn was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for a head injury. He was the second officer to be violently attacked in the same housing complex in less than 24 hours. While attempting to break up a fight Monday night, Officer Josh Hausman was stabbed. Both officers are expected to recover.

“I want to be clear that Officer Josh Hausman on Monday night and Officer Matthew Cammarn last night had come to that neighborhood to protect citizens from harm and were themselves attacked,” said Nashville police Chief Steve Anderson. “Attacks on police officers are absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by this city.”

[ News 5 ]

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