Man arrested after attacking woman who was attempting to offer assistance, police say

A 20-year-old man has been arrested after attacking a woman on I-65 south, according to a release from Hoover Police.

There was a car wreck along I-65 around 12:31 a.m., according to police, and the woman stopped to ask a man — later identified as Birmingham resident Roderick Ruthus McCloud Jr. — by the wrecked vehicle by if he needed help. McCloud said he did not need help and then ran toward the woman’s car in an attempt to steal it, police said.

The woman was able to make it back to her car, and then the man reportedly started hitting her in the head while she sat in her car. Another citizen stopped to offer assistance at the wreck, according to the report, and the suspect ran away.

The suspect removed his clothes and reportedly refused to follow the orders of responding officers. The suspect also ran across the interstate and jumped over the median before he was captured by another responding officer.

McCloud was arrested and charged with third degree robbery and attempting to elude. His bond was set at $10,300, and he is in Hoover City Jail and is awaiting transfer to Jefferson County Jail.

The victim did not sustain any serious injuries, said Lt. Keith Czeskleba. When it is late at night and you notice someone might need assistance, Czeskleba recommended calling police rather than offering help yourself.

“Especially late at night, if you see somebody you think that may need help, go ahead and just call the police rather than stopping and asking,” Czeskleba said. “… Let us get up there and take a look at it, and if they don’t need us we’ll go on about our business to the next call. That way you don’t put yourself in danger.”