Bar manager Roger Stenning said he did not have time to think about whether to help the officers - Senior Constable Michael Colligan and Constable Toni Velenski - who, he said, had their hands full dealing with 21-year-old unemployed Alexandra man Peter James Deihl, who was suspected of damaging a police car.
"I could see they were struggling, so I just jumped in to give them a hand.
"It's just one of those things that happens. It was nothing really," the 49-year-old Cromwell man said.
"In a small community, you've got to be prepared to help."
The officers had used pepper spray but it had little effect, Mr Stenning said.
"He had the policewoman by the hair, with her face pinned on the road. He'd hit her pretty bloody hard.
"I just tried to do what I could to get her released. I know police are trained for that sort of thing but she didn't deserve that sort of treatment.
"I don't like to see women being hit by men."
Mr Stenning praised the actions of one of Deihl's friends.
"In the end, he did a very good job of calming him down."
Police Otago rural area commander Inspector Mike Cook said if Mr Stenning had not stepped in the situation could have been much worse.
The incident unfolded while the two officers were making a routine visit to an Alexandra hotel about 11.20pm.
While there, they were told a police patrol car had been damaged.
The officers went to another hotel, which Insp Cook declined to name because neither it or its staff were at fault, looking for the person thought to be responsible for the damage.
The man was initially co-operative but once outside the hotel "he changed his tune", Insp Cook said.
Const Velenski suffered a "substantial blow" to the head, while Snr Const Colligan was hit in the jaw and bitten on the arm, Insp Cook said.
It is alleged Mr Stenning was also assaulted.
After being examined by a doctor and ambulance staff on Friday night, Const Velenski was allowed to go home.
Insp Cook said she was likely to have severe bruising on her face and would be off work for a few days.
He confirmed pepper spray was used.
Insp Cook said yesterday he understood both officers were recovering at home.
• Deihl entered no plea to charges of injuring with intent, assaulting a police officer, assaulting a person assisting police, intentional damage of a police car and resisting arrest when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Saturday.
He was remanded in custody to appear tomorrow.
