DUI suspect grabs CHP Sacramento officer’s gun. Passing drivers and pedestrian step in

Motorists and pedestrians traveling on Interstate 80 stepped in on Tuesday to help a California Highway Patrol officer after a drunk driving suspect became combative.

North Sacramento CHP received a call of a motorist possibly driving under the influence on I-80 eastbound near Madison Avenue. After the suspect rear-ended a big rig towing a trailer, an officer caught up to the vehicle and contacted the driver, according to a Wednesday post to social media from North Sacramento CHP.

The driver “immediately became confrontational” and began fighting the officer, according to the post, at one point grabbing the officer’s weapon. Passing motorists and one pedestrian noticed the struggle and stepped in to assist the officer.

In a post to social media, CHP thanked the passersby for assisting the officer in a time of need.

“Without your assistance, things may have ended up much differently and we are most certainly thankful they did not,” the post read. “For those who helped, you know who you are and we want you to know how grateful we are that you stopped to help our officer!”