Grandpa with Walking Stick Helps Cops Nab Armed Suspect Fleeing From Police
Most of us would like to think that, given the chance, we’d be willing and able to help someone in a tricky situation. The problem is, a lot of those opportunities pass us by in the blink of an eye.
If you’re not always on your guard, always ready to step up and help out, you may just lose your chance.
But this is a story of a man who was more than ready to step up — or back — and assist a live pursuit. He used no weapons, and he made a very small movement, but it made all the difference.
Police officers were chasing a young man who was armed with a Glock and 29 rounds. The older man, named Bill, was waiting outside a library with his granddaughter when he realized what was happening.
After the incident, the Columbus Division of Police posted the details on their Facebook page, praising Bill for his quick thinking and action.
“‘Bill’ assessed the situation as fast as he could,” they wrote, “cane in hand. He heard officers yelling multiple times to drop the gun.”
“‘Bill’ says with officers lagging a bit behind the suspect he did what he could to help them nab the armed man.”
And what, exactly, was that? The man with a cane took a long, low step back just as the suspect ran behind him.
“That move likely saved the 18-year-old suspect’s life,” the Facebook post read. “It also allowed police to catch up to him to make an arrest.”
DeShawn Briggs, who has a long list of offenses, tripped over Bill’s extended leg and sprawled onto the cement, his gun flying out of his hand and skittering out of reach.
Bill doesn’t wait around, either. He knew what to do to intercept the suspect but he also knew not to wait around to see what happened.
Keeping his eyes glued to the suspect off-screen, Bill darted in the opposite direction. Just as the suspect trips, the police car pulls to a stop and a cop leaps out.
They were able to detain him without any major issues after that. One of the officers reportedly said “You’re lucky you dropped that gun, man. Boy, you almost got shot.”
Bill didn’t have to do what he did. He had no way of knowing how things would end up, and whether or not there would be repercussions. He simply did what he could to help in a tricky situation.
Some viewers have suggested that Bill looks pretty agile and doesn’t look like he really needs the cane. But does that matter? He saved the day, and potentially lives, through one small movement.
“Community involvement, be it by courage, bravery and/or fancy footwork,” concluded the Columbus Division of Police, “helped take a criminal off the streets of Columbus.”
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