Current:Home > FinanceVideo shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks -ProfitClass
Video shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks
View
Date:2025-04-25 18:31:30
One accused carjacker chose the wrong Starbucks drive-thru to target.
Dashcam footage released late last month shows the end of a police chase in Ocala, Florida, in which suspect Michael Prouty, 39, was being pursued after he allegedly broke into a local resident's house and stole their purse, cell phone and Cadilliac car, according to police.
Following a short chase in which the Prouty allegedly damaged several other cars in the stolen vehicle, he crashed at an intersection and took off on foot, approaching cars sitting in a nearby Starbucks drive-thru.
This is where Army veteran Shane Spicer first laid eyes on the suspect.
Spicer told local affiliate FOX 35 Orlando that he was barely awake and waiting in line for his coffee fix when he saw the crash and subsequent foot chase unfold. It was then that Spicer said he saw Prouty forcing his way into another car lined up in the drive-thru.
"(He was) sprinting up to Starbucks, and he didn’t look like a Starbucks coffee drinker," Spicer told Fox 35. "Then he yanked the girl out of the car. And just kind of an instinctive, kind of reactionary thing."
March for Isreal livestream:'March for Israel' rally livestream: Supporters gather in Washington DC
Footage shows moment would-be carjacker is foiled
The released dashcam footage shows Prouty trying to enter a woman's vehicle from the driver's side in what police said was an attempted carjacking. Multiple outlets have since reported that the woman driving the car was also pregnant at the time.
Spicer can then be seen exiting his own vehicle and sprinting over to intervene, getting into the passenger side of the would-be victim's car to fight Prouty off. Bodycam footage from one of the arresting officers then shows Spicer chasing Prouty down and holding him until police are able to catch up and make the arrest.
In a press release, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken also acknowledged another good Samaritan, Tom Episcopo, who he said slowed Prouty down earlier in the chase.
"We are proud of these two citizens for their heroic action, for helping our officers make the arrest, and for keeping our community safe," Chief Balken shared.
According to the release, Prouty has a lengthy criminal history and is facing multiple charges. Ocala police charged Prouty with fleeing and eluding, attempted carjacking, crash involving injuries, and resisting arrest, while authorities in Sumter County, where he stole the original vehicle, are charging him with home invasion, battery on a person over 65, and grand theft of a vehicle.
"I feel like if you’ve got the ability to watch out for someone, that you should," Spicer told Fox 35. "I would just hope that someone would do the same for my family."
Man crashes into deputies in wild video:Video shows man crashing car into Florida sheriff's deputies, injuring 2
veryGood! (8313)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- 'Squid Game' creator lost '8 or 9' teeth making Season 1, explains Season 2 twist
- U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
- Brian Austin Green’s Fiancée Sharna Burgess Celebrates Megan Fox’s Pregnancy News
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
- Why was Jalen Ramsey traded? Dolphins CB facing former team on 'Monday Night Football'
- Why Cynthia Erivo Needed Prosthetic Ears for Wicked
- Meet 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao, the youngest Olympian competing in Paris
- Lions find way to win, Bears in tough spot: Best (and worst) from NFL Week 10
Ranking
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- New York eyes reviving congestion pricing toll before Trump takes office
- Sting Says Sean Diddy Combs Allegations Don't Taint His Song
- Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo a 'child' over fake handshake
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Joel Embiid injury, suspension update: When is 76ers star's NBA season debut?
- Saving for retirement? How to account for Social Security benefits
- Lou Donaldson, jazz saxophonist who blended many influences, dead at 98
Recommendation
51-year-old Andy Macdonald puts on Tony Hawk-approved Olympic skateboard showing
Fantasy football buy low, sell high: 10 trade targets for Week 11
Judge extends the time to indict the driver accused of killing Johnny Gaudreau and his brother
Veterans Day restaurant deals 2024: More than 80 discounts, including free meals
What polling shows about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ new running mate
Jury awards Abu Ghraib detainees $42 million, holds contractor responsible
Maryland man wanted after 'extensive collection' of 3D-printed ghost guns found at his home
U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas