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When suspect resists arrest, dog walker comes to rescue

A man accused of prowling on Davis Islands was running from a police officer.

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published June 14, 2005

TAMPA - A Davis Islands lawyer walking his dog Sunday evening ended up helping an officer detain a suspected prowler who was resisting arrest, according to Tampa Police.

Daniel Frijouf, 33, was walking near Chippewa Avenue and Channel Drive when he saw Officer Holley Norris under attack by 39-year-old Chris Fabre, said Tampa Police spokesman Joe Durkin.

Frijouf was walking Buster, his 13-year-old chihuahua, when he saw Norris confront a man suspected of approaching women while wearing nothing but white Spandex shorts.

"I saw an officer with her gun drawn on a white middle-aged man," Frijouf said.

He said Norris ordered the suspect to stop, but "he definitely wasn't complying."

Frijouf said he saw the suspect attack Norris after she holstered her gun and attempted to handcuff him.

Fabre then turned and ran away from the officer and straight toward Frijouf.

"I asked the officer if she needed assistance, and I believe she said yes," Frijouf said. "I believe we both jumped on him at the same time."

Norris handcuffed Fabre and sat on him until more officers arrived, Frijouf said.

"In a violent encounter with a suspect, seconds count," Durkin said. "It's very fortunate that Daniel, without hesitation, came and helped."

Norris had gone to the area around 8 p.m. to investigate reports that a man in white Spandex shorts was ducking in and out of yards and approaching female residents, Durkin said.

Norris had investigated similar complaints a few nights before, but never found the suspected prowler.

When she saw Fabre at Chippewa Avenue and Channel Drive on Sunday night, she called out to him, asking him to come talk to her, Durkin said.

"But he walked away, ignoring her command," he said. "And he lodged a few obscenities."

When Norris reached out in a gesture meant to calm Fabre, Fabre "swung on the officer and started violently attacking her," Durkin said.

That's when Frijouf stepped in to help.

He said he was just walking his usual route with Buster, and that he had never intervened in a situation like this before.

Fabre was taken to the county jail and booked on charges of loitering, violently resisting arrest, battery on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor battery.

[Last modified June 14, 2005, 01:26:18]