Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – A man who tried to help a woman being sexually assaulted is killed, and Arlington County Police say they have arrested the man who did it.
Police said Michael Nash, 27, was walking with a woman on South George Mason Drive around 9:30 Thursday night when he started physically and sexually assaulting her.
Patricio Salazar, 54, of Arlington saw the assault and stepped in to help according to police. That’s when they say Nash physically assaulted Salazar, leaving him unconscious. Salazar was taken to the hospital and died.
“This is a tragic loss for our community, a senseless loss of somebody’s life,” Arlington County Police spokesperson Ashley Savage said.
Nash faces three charges related to the sexual assault but has not yet been charged with murder.
Savage said the department has been working with the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney, which will ultimately decide what charges are appropriate and file them.
Police said Nash ran off after the assaults and tried to rob two other people. They fought back, and he fled again only to steal another woman’s phone.
Police do not recommend witnesses intervene and encourage them to call 911 instead.
“We understand Mr. Salazar’s position in feeling like you need to come to the aid of somebody when you see something violent happening in your community,” Savage said.
Salazar is a true hero, according to Savage, because he ultimately stopped a sexual and physical attack.
Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Arlington County Police)
