Quincy man charged with tackling woman in the South End, punching her repeatedly in the head and trying to take her clothes off

Boston Police report arresting a man they say tackled and beat a woman and tried to strip off her clothes - before a bystander rushed in to pull him off.

Amos Sykes, 35, of Quincy, was arrested not long after the attack, around 9:35 p.m. at West Canton and Appleton streets. According to police:

The adult female victim had been walking on Columbus Avenue when the suspect grabbed her from behind, forced her onto the ground and began punching her in the head. The suspect attempted to take off the victims clothing before a witness stepped in to fight off Sykes.

Sykes ran off, but officers who had already been summoned and arrived just as the bystander was grappling with Sykes to get him off the woman, were able to quickly apprehend him, and charge him with indecent assault and battery and assault and battery with injuries.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with injuries not considered life threatening, police say.

Innocent, etc.