CEDAR CITY— Cedar City police responded to a call in February concerning a man assaulting a woman with a baseball bat. A citizen, Colter Bennett, intervened in the assault, allowing the victim to leave the area.
A physical altercation ensued between Bennett and the suspect, identified as Daniel Andersen. Bennett pulled Andersen’s hair to remove him from the victim, at which point Andersen turned his attention to Bennett, striking him in the face multiple times before Bennett and the victim were able to leave the scene, the statement says.
At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Cedar City Chief of Police Darin Adams presented Bennett with a citizen commendation for his “swift and decisive actions.” He read the words written on the certificate aloud.
“Without hesitation, Colter rushed towards (Andersen and the woman) to help free the victim. Colter was forced to strike the suspect multiple times in the head and as a result, broke his hand,” Adams said.
“We strongly believe that without Colter’s heroic intervention, the female victim would have likely received further and more serious injuries,” Adams said. “Courage like Colter’s is rarely seen in today’s society.”
When asked to give a few words, Bennett said he thanked God.
“Without the Lord and without the Spirit of God, I wouldn’t have been able to help her,” Bennett said.
Cedar City News reached out to Bennett through Chief Adams, who said Bennett would prefer not to do an interview.
“I think he’s just a really humble guy,” Adams said.
Andersen was arrested the day of the incident for aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony, and assault, a Class B misdemeanor, according to the statement.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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