When a teenager went on the attach in a parking lot in front of 960 Main Street in Branford on Monday night, a Clinton girl did not hesitate before racing to their rescue and police are recognizing her for her heroic acts.



Police said a 19-year-old man who has mental illness was uncontrollable and outraged when an elderly man who was trying to parallel park accidentally hit the teen’s car around 4 p.m. on Monday, police said.



When the elderly driver and his wife got out of their car to check the damage, the 19-year-old, who police said was very large, pushed the man to the ground, causing a head injury, then pushed his wife to the ground and kicked her in the face, police said.



Jordan Ledyard, 13, of Clinton, was in a car nearby with her mother, Jennifer, when she saw the teen push the elderly man to the ground and immediately ran to the man’s aid.



As she was trying to help, the teen punched her in the face too, police said.



Jordan, the couple, and another person who was injured were able to get to a doctor’s office and away from the teen,, police said.



In addition to Jordan running to the couple’s assistance, several people called 911.



Chief Kevin Halloran commended everyone who helped the couple.



“However,” Halloran said, “I know that I, along with all of the officers that responded, are astonished by the gallant act of bravery that Jordan exhibited, putting herself in harm’s way of someone who is at least three times her size to assist others during this crisis is truly a noble act.”



