When convicted felon Mark Anthony Gonzales saw a San Antonio police officer struggling to make an arrest of a resisting suspect on August 22, he decided to do the right thing.
"I had no relationship with law enforcement or the system. In fact, I despised it because of what I was going through," Gonzales told KENS5/KHOU.
"I still went out of my way because I knew it was the right thing to do," he said
Gonzales said he was on his way to the gym, where he trains as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter, when he saw the officer chasing a man. He says when that man tripped and fell to the ground, the officer fell on top of him and the fight for control was on.
"I said, 'Hey, that's the cue I need, because this officer is in need of desperate help.'"
While Gonzales approached and offered his assistance, his wife started recording the incident on her cell phone. Gonzales said he wanted the video evidence because of his criminal history. He said he didn't want his actions to be misunderstood.
"It was one of those life-and-death situations where the suspect decided to reach for the (officer's) firearm and I was able to pry his fingers away from the weapon," Gonzales said.
With regard to his future and the legal challenges he still faces, Gonzales said he is committed to being on the right path for the sake of his children.
