Security guard hailed for quick intervention in machete attack

CTV National News: Unprovoked assault Surveillance video offers a disturbing look at a recent machete attack in a downtown Toronto mall. Peter Akman reports.

A security guard who is being hailed as a hero for quickly intervening after an alleged attack involving a machete, says he was “just doing my job.”

Nathaniel McNeil, who works for Paragon Security at Atrium on Bay, described at a news conference Thursday afternoon the actions he and his partner took after hearing reports about someone on the premises with a knife.

The incident began shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, when a 30-year-old man was injured in what police say was an unprovoked attack by a man wielding a machete.

Police say the victim suffered non-life threatening injuries to his head and leg.

Moments later, McNeil and his partner Phillip Bonaparte were at the scene, near the front entrance of the retail and office complex near Bay and Dundas streets.

In a dramatic video, McNeil can be seen approaching the suspect from behind, tackling him and rushing him to the floor, seconds before police officers arrive.

McNeil said, at the time, he assessed the situation and made a “split-second” decision.

“I wasn’t even thinking about being scared, I just wanted to stop what he was doing,” McNeil told reporters Thursday.

Once the suspect was restrained, Bonaparte applied hand restraints on the accused, and also kicked a knife away before police arrived.

At the news conference, Ted Salter, vice-president of Paragon Security, said he was “proud of the actions” taken by McNeil and Bonaparte.

“The outcome could have been much worse if the guards didn’t step in,” Salter said.

Remanded to custody

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old suspect has been ordered to remain in custody following a brief court appearance on Thursday.

The man was remanded into custody on medical detention after a bail hearing on Thursday morning.

Arlington Thompson, of Queens, N.Y., has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon.

Police still want to speak with any witnesses to the alleged attack.