York police honor 2 for kind acts

The York Police Department will honor two residents as the recipients of its first KARMA awards, given to those who do kind acts.

KARMA is an acronym for the Kind Acts Really Matter Award. The first awards were given to Donnell Cole and Amelia Monique Patterson for “selflessness” and “assistance they provided to others in need of help,” according to Police Chief Andy Robinson.

The awards were announced by Robinson at a recent York City Council meeting, but the recipients did not attend.

Cole helped a 27-year-old woman who was attacked on June 2 at her home on West Liberty Street, where she was with her three young children, according to York police.

The victim was able to distract the suspect and began to run away, as Cole was nearby, turning from West Liberty onto Washington Street, police said.

The woman yelled for help as the suspect grabbed her by the hair and pulled her into the backyard, where he punched her in the face and began to sexually assault her, police said.

Police said Cole intervened to protect the woman and stayed with her until police arrived. He also provided a description of the suspect and information about the direction in which he fled. The suspect was later arrested and charged with rape, kidnapping and trespassing, according to police.

Patterson helped a woman who was being assaulted by a man on May 9 in the 400 block of California Street, police said.

Patterson told police she and her sister were driving on U.S. 321 Bypass near California Street when they saw a man standing over a woman lying in a ditch. Patterson said the man was “viciously” striking the woman, police said.

Patterson stopped to help the victim and got the woman into her car and began to drive away from the suspect, who was trying to pull the woman out of the car, police said.

Patterson transported the victim to safe area, police said. The victim, who said she was knocked unconscious at one point during the assault, confirmed the details provided by Patterson. Police said the suspect was later arrested and charged with second offense criminal domestic violence.

Robinson wrote that the police department “believes that it is only fitting that they be recognized for their good deeds and hope that these noble acts will serve as an example for others to follow.”

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 1:36 PM with the headline "York police honor 2 for kind acts."