It started with an urgent plea for help late Saturday night as he walked to his car after a State Fair outing with his family.

And it ended with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett lying in a pool of blood with a broken hand after he rushed to confront a pipe-wielding suspect officials described as a "vicious thug."

By Sunday evening, the suspect was in custody, Barrett was recuperating at a hospital, and his heroics were being recounted on national cable and network news shows.

Barrett, first elected in 2004 and re-elected last year, was struck on the head and torso with the pipe and broke his hand, presumably when he punched the man. As he rested Sunday at Froedtert Hospital, where doctors stitched up cuts on his head and lip, authorities and witnesses explained what happened.

The 55-year-old mayor, his sister, niece and two of his daughters were walking to his car around 10:45 p.m. Saturday in the 8800 block of W. Orchard St. in West Allis when they heard a woman yelling.

Authorities said Anthony J. Peters, 20, was arguing with his ex-girlfriend's mother, whose cries for help were answered by the mayor. Telling his sister to take his two young daughters out of harm's way, Barrett confronted the man and tried to calm him. When Barrett took out his cell phone, Peters attacked him, authorities said.

Barrett's niece stayed behind and called 911.

"My niece stood there while this was going on saying to the guy, 'The cops are coming,' and ultimately he came toward her but took off when he heard the sirens," said John Barrett, the mayor's brother.

West Allis Police Chief Mike Jungbluth described Peters as a "desperate man" who had threatened to shoot himself and others. He had taken a cell phone from the woman who was trying to protect her 1-year-old granddaughter from Peters, the girl's father, police said.

Mayor expected to recover

A tearful John Barrett said doctors expect his brother to recover from his injuries. The mayor was alert and talking when he was taken to Froedtert. He was listed in stable condition Sunday evening and expected to stay in the hospital through Monday.

"He still has a good sense of humor, and he's a great brother," said John Barrett, the Milwaukee County clerk of circuit court. "Tom stepped up and did the right thing. He called 911 and tried to calm the situation, protecting a grandmother and child."

Kim Zaja, who lives in a brick bungalow across the street, heard the commotion but at first didn't know what happened in front of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. She looked out to see Barrett lying in a pool of blood on the street.

"The cops were there fast," Zaja said. "Cop cars were pulling up all over the place."

Peters fled the scene but was arrested at a Milwaukee home near N. 17th St. and W. State St. in Milwaukee around noon Sunday. A pipe was later recovered by West Allis police. Jungbluth said Peters has an extensive arrest record, including assault charges.

"Last night, he was a totally violent and vicious thug, and that's how he behaved," Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said outside John Barrett's home Sunday afternoon. "He's somebody the West Allis police are familiar with as one of their local knuckleheads."

Peters had not been formally charged Sunday in the mayor's beating, but detectives were questioning him. He is being held on suspicion of felony battery. Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said Sunday that he anticipates a decision on charges will be made later this week.

Arrested in alley

Peters was arrested in an alley behind the multi-unit home on State St. when his cousin came to pick him up, according to a man who says he is Peters' best friend. The friend lives at the house where he says Peters was hiding. Peters got five feet away from his cousin's vehicle when a plain-clothes officer jumped out and arrested him, the friend said.

He told Peters that the mayor was the beating victim and that he should no longer stay at the house. "You could tell by the look on his face - he knew what he did, he knew it wasn't going away," the friend said.

The friend said he has known Peters for five years, and they both attended Spotted Eagle, an alternative high school for American Indian students. "Most people probably don't have the chance to even meet the mayor, and he goes and beats him up," he said.

As West Allis neighborhood residents waved flags to attract State Fair-goers to park on their lawns Sunday afternoon, Zaja recalled the events of the previous evening, when she heard someone on her fence in the backyard and then the sound of sirens. Zaja had previously talked to her neighbor about Peters.

"She's had problems with this boyfriend. He'll sit in the car. He'll watch her," Zaja said of her neighbor, Peters' former girlfriend. "I don't know if they had a restraining order."

Zaja thought her neighbor was out with her current boyfriend Saturday night when Peters arrived and confronted the neighbor's mother, who was watching the neighbor's daughter. The neighbor's mother was not injured in the incident.

Regret about family

The mayor usually travels with a security detail when attending official events, said Barrett Chief of Staff Patrick Curley. As with many private events, the mayor chose not to have security with him at the fair Saturday. However, Barrett did regret that his family witnessed the beating.

"He said it was hard because his kids and niece were there at the time of the incident," Curley said. "He knew he had to (intervene). It was the right thing to do."

Common Council President Willie Hines was briefed on the mayor's condition. Under the city's line of succession, Hines would take command if the mayor were unable to perform his duties.

When Hines got the call Saturday night from Curley, he said: "I must admit it was like a blow to my stomach. Tom's a great guy.

"I'm here to do anything I can to assist him with governance of the city. But more importantly, my greatest concern is that he gets strong and healthy," Hines said.

Curley, though, said the mayor was scheduled for vacation this week.

Gov. Jim Doyle visited Barrett in the hospital Sunday morning and said he "found him to be in good spirits and looking good considering what happened."

"The mayor's heroic actions clearly saved a woman and others from harm," Doyle said in a statement.

Kathy Flanigan of the Journal Sentinel staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.