By Danielle Battaglia
The Reidsville Review
WENTWORTH — A Rockingham County probation officer received the Governor’s Award for Excellence due to his heroism after first responders said he most likely saved a woman’s life.
“I was ecstatic,” the officer’s supervisor David King said.
Probation Officer Stephen Hunter recently learned of his award. He received it after saving a 77-year-old woman from being beaten by her 48-year-old son.
In Sept. 2012, Hunter worked in the community doing home visits.
King said one morning while Hunter worked, a concerned citizen pulled up obviously upset and said she saw an assault happening down the street.
Hunter traveled to the location and saw Joseph Woodrow Turner attacking his mother.
Hunter intervened until law enforcement arrived on scene.
“The first responders said if Hunter hadn’t been there the woman may have died,” King said.
Rockingham County District Attorney Phil Berger Jr., further explained the situation.
Hunter came across Turner on Sept. 17, 2012.
Berger said Turner consumed a fifth of liquor and consumed four Xanax pills before taking away his mother’s phone she planned to use to call for a ride.
Berger said Turner punched her in the face and knocked her to the ground. He kicked and stomped her head repeatedly for five to six minutes.
The mother suffered fractures to her face, lacerations to her scalp and intracranial bleeding from a shear hemorrhage.
Berger said when Hunter arrived on scene Turner advanced on him forcing him to use pepper spray.
Turner used racial slurs against Hunter, Berger said.
Turner received 112 to 146 months in prison last week after a jury found him guilty.
Hunter’s award comes with a dinner at the Governor’s mansion and a ceremony in Raleigh.