A Durango man convicted of robbing someone at knifepoint found himself on the other end of the blade last weekend in Ignacio.
Maurice Anderson, 31, is credited with tackling a man who allegedly punched a 15-year-old girl in the face during a family dispute, according to an arrest affidavit filed in 6th Judicial District Court.
The incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Saturday on Romero Avenue in Ignacio. James Phillips, 46, was arguing with his ex-wife, Rachel Phillips, when a girl tried to intervene. James Phillips turned around and punched the girl in the face with a closed fist, according to statements the girl and Rachel Phillips made to police.
The girl had a red mark and swelling under her left eye, according to the police report.
Anderson immediately tackled Phillips, and they began fighting. Phillips pulled out a utility knife, and he cut Anderson’s hand.
“It’s been a crazy year,” Anderson said. “People think I’m this evil person when it’s not even like that.”
Phillips was arrested on suspicion of felony assault. He made an initial appearance Monday in La Plata County Court.
Anderson, a former Fort Lewis College football player, has been arrested twice since 2015: first in an armed robbery at an ATM at the Bank of the San Juans in Durango and most recently on suspicion of using a fake identification to purchase a car and sell it to another man.
He pleaded guilty June 2 to robbery and faces up to 90 days in jail or two to five years in community corrections for the ATM holdup, even though he said Monday he didn’t commit the ATM robbery. He said he pleaded guilty only because the deal also takes care of the identity theft case, which he said he did commit. Sentencing is set for Aug. 11.
Rachel Phillips said Anderson sprang into action when the situation turned violent. He de-escalated the situation and didn’t use excessive force, she said.
“It was really valiant the way he handled the whole thing,” she said. “He truly is a kind person. ... My family thinks he’s a hero because he protected us that day and didn’t hurt my ex-husband, which he could have. ... It was really a beautiful thing to see.”
Anderson required several stitches and needs to visit an orthopedic surgeon.
shane@durangoherald.com