COVINGTON, Ky. -- Staff Sgt. Stewart Lee said he hadn't planned to go out that night.
Lee and his brother were still out on Madison Avenue early Sunday morning when police officers were trying to put handcuffs on 33-year-old Antonio Ford, who had warrants out for his arrest. Ford assaulted one of the officers and tried to escape, police said.
"As I came around the back side of the car, I realized that he is not OK," Lee said. "He had fallen and hit his head."
Lee is an Army medic based out of Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He was home for Christmas. Lee said he always carries his medical bag with him. While the other officer chased Ford, Lee sprang into action to help the injured officer, who police identified as Brian Powers.
"I automatically went into survival mode to make sure that he was OK," Lee said.
Lee performed first aid until Covington firefighters arrived and drove Powers to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Covington Police Chief Rob Nader praised Lee.
"We owe him a great deal because, you know, at 1:30 in the morning to take the time to help an officer while he's down -- that's great. That just shows the community coming together, working together," Nader said.
Powers has been an officer in Covington since August 2016, and was previously an officer in Dayton, Kentucky. Lee said he spoke with Powers on Christmas, and that the officer is home recovering with his family.
Some are calling Lee a hero, but he said he would hope anyone would step in the way he did.
"'Hero' is a strong word, I really don't like that one," Lee said. "How about, you know, 'a good citizen?' I'll go with that one."
Ford is facing charges of third- and fourth-degree assault, fleeing or evading police and resisting arrest. He's being held in the Kenton County Detention Center and is expected to make a court appearance sometime Wednesday.
