Helping A Police Officer.

[James]

I read this story on Sunday about a woman who saw a policeman struggling with an attacker and grabbed her stun gun and went to his aid.

Tanisha Cross never thought the stun gun she received for Christmas would come in handy so soon.

Cross said she was headed to Wal-Mart in Lithonia with her mother when she noticed a DeKalb County police officer being attacked by a suspect.

I just told my mom pull over, lets try to help, said Cross.

The 20-year-old mother, who received the stun gun as a gift from her husband, said she kept it in a diaper bag.

Cross said while others gathered to watch, she sprung into action.

I went straight for my kids diaper bag and I got it and asked it if he [officer] wanted me to do it and he said, Yea, said Cross.

Cross said the officer had a hard time defending himself because the attacker had taken the officers radio and managed to rub pepper spray in the officers face and eyes.

Jolting the attacker, Cross timing couldn't have been better. Cross said she stunned the suspect in his arms and legs.

Cross said she stunned the attacker to where the officer regained his composure and fought back until a security guard came to their aid.

He's brave, she said. He did his best to keep him from his gun. He handled the situation very well. I was just glad I could help him, said Cross.

Cross doesn't consider herself a hero.

Im just a bystander trying to help do the right thing, said Cross. (January 2009)