Man beaten trying to stop bus assault in St. Paul

A Good Samaritan who ended up beaten and in the hospital says he has no regrets about trying to break up a domestic assault in St. Paul.

Eric Skripka was on his way to buy groceries Saturday night when he says he saw an 18-year-old man assault his girlfriend and force her off a bus.

The 33-year-old Skripka tried to intervene but says the man "got in my face." Witnesses say the man punched Skripka in the head, knocked him unconscious and continued to kick him in the head.

Police found Skripka semiconscious at the scene. His right eye was swollen shut and he wore a neck brace at a news conference Monday at Regions Hospital.

The alleged assailant, Brian Harper, is charged with assault. He denies hitting his girlfriend and says the fight with Skripka was mutual.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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