Two Madison men were arrested early Thursday morning for the battery of a University of Wisconsin SAFEwalk employee near the corner of Park and Johnson streets.

SAFEwalk Supervisor Troy Ruland wrote in an e-mail to The Badger Herald that two SAFEwalkers were escorting a student home when two men in a vehicle pulled up next to them. Upon exiting the vehicle, they began verbally assaulting one of the SAFEwalkers before eventually striking them.

“The second SAFEwalker responded quickly by ensuring the escort was safe while

also calling in the assault over the radio to UWPD,” Ruland said. “The SAFEwalkers in this incident followed all of our procedures when dealing with a situation.”

According to a UW Police Department press release, officers responded to their call at approximately 11:57 p.m. Once they arrived at the scene, eyewitnesses indicated a stopped vehicle nearby believed to contain two suspects.

After the officers made contact with the car, Nathaniel Showers, 22 and Yusef Wafford, 24, were arrested and booked into the Dane County Jail, according to the release. Both have been tentatively charged with substantial battery. Showers was also arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

“We don’t get a lot of battery calls in the downtown area,” UWPD Lt. Kari Sasso said. “To have something like this happen so early on in the school year was really a surprise. It wasn’t somebody targeting anyone; I don’t think anyone else is currently in any sort of danger.”

According to the release, the victim was treated at Meriter Hospital and then released. Ruland said no serious injury was sustained.

Ruland said a “physical altercation” has never occurred with SAFEwalk in the past.

“These are students who care about our campus community and do a great job at what they do. We are committed as an organization and as a team to promote safety, provide safe travel options, and to provide a dependable presence on campus for all University of Wisconsin students, faculty, staff and guests,” Ruland said.

Sasso emphasized students should be aware at all times of their surroundings and walk in groups or utilize SAFEwalk when walking after dark.