An undercover officer and bystanders are being credited with stopping an attack on a senior citizen in an incident caught on camera.
Stamford police say it happened just before noon on West Avenue in front of the Shell gas station.
Police say a 77-year-old woman and her two great-grandchildren were walking down the street when suspect Haywood Alexander approached them and got aggressive.
They tell News 12 he had blood on him, wasn't making sense, and tried to grab one of the children. Police believe he was high on PCP at the time.
Police say the great-grandmother got in the middle of it to protect the kids, but that's when Alexander allegedly put her in a headlock and started choking her.
News 12 was told an undercover investigator was at the gas station following up on another matter and ran out to intervene.
When Alexander turned on him, police say some witnesses jumped in to back up the officer and get Alexander into custody.
“The great-grandmother is bruised a bit,” Capt. Richard Conklin. “The children witnessed this whole thing so they're certainly traumatized but the good news is no one was seriously injured.”
Alexander faces several charges including unlawful restraint, assault on an elderly person, assault on a police officer and risk of injury to minors.