Kansas man ‘with the right skill set’ saves woman attacked by intruder in her home

LAWRENCE, Kan. (WDAF) – Police in Lawrence, Kansas, say they have a good Samaritan to thank for helping subdue a suspect who was attacking a woman in her home. 

Austin Netherton says he is just thankful he happened to pass by the woman’s home when he did. 

“It was just total luck being in the right place at the right time with the right skill set, I guess, to just take care of it,” Netherton said. “I couldn’t imagine anything worse happening to somebody else’s daughter. So, I just did what I think any parent would do in that situation and just handled it. “

Investigators with the Lawrence Police Department believe the suspect broke into the woman’s apartment through a window, claimed to be a police officer, asked for her purse and then attacked the woman.

At the time of the attack, Netherton was walking into his apartment building.

“I was just punching in my door code and kind of heard what sounded like violent TV, obviously a struggle. When I looked over at the window, it was wide open, and he was on top of her. He was attacking her. I just went through the window and grabbed him,” Netherton explained.

Netherton said he held the attacker down while the woman called 911 and continued to subdue the suspect until police responded.

“I trained in jiu-jitsu. It’s been a little bit since I’ve been in the gym, but it’s like riding a bike,” Netherton said. 

Lawrence police officers responded to the call just before midnight on Thursday. 

In a Facebook post the following day, LPD thanked the good Samaritan.

“I just want to praise God for putting me in the right place at the right time and my coaches for giving me the right training to deal with the situation accordingly,” Netherton said. 

According to LPD, the suspect was eventually booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility after being checked out at the hospital, where he is also suspected of battering a hospital employee.  

The victim and Netherton had minor cuts and bruises, but will both be OK.