CAIRO — A Whigham man is being recognized by police for actions he took that led to the apprehension of a suspect accused of robbery.

The Cairo Police Department says Heath Sanders “selflessly responded to a cry for help from a fellow citizen who had just been the victim of a robbery” during the early morning hours of October 10.

“Mr. Sanders kept the suspect in sight, provided this information to 911, and when officers arrived on scene, identified the suspect leading to his successful capture,” a CPD statement reads.

“His willingness to ‘get involved’ has brought credit upon himself, and has helped make Cairo a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”

Sanders was presented with a Police Service Award for his actions Wednesday.

Police say Sanders remained calm and called 911 after hearing the screams of a nearby woman, but that was just the beginning of his involvement with the incident.

Sanders was in the process of opening his Fourth Street business when he heard the commotion and spotted 41-year-old Timothy Bond running away from the scene.

A police incident report states that Sanders called 911 and began following Bond as he ran north on Third Street toward First Avenue. Sanders told authorities Bond had turned west onto First Avenue, where officers apprehended him.

“Sanders’ assistance was invaluable in the apprehension of Bond, as he may have very well gotten away from the area prior to our arrival,” said Police Chief Giovannie Santos. “We cannot think of an action which better exemplifies being of service to your community than answering a fellow citizen’s plea for help, so we chose to honor Sanders with the Police Service Award.”

The incident report states that Bond had approached a woman who was in the process of a setting up a yard sale, and demanded money and her purse. The woman told police Bond appeared to be pointing something at her but that she was unsure if it was a weapon.

Takach instead threw Bond an empty pouch she was preparing to sell. Bond then took off running west on Second Avenue, the incident report states.

Bond has been charged with robbery by sudden snatching.