Current:Home > FinanceVideo shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks -AssetTrainer
Video shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks
View
Date:2025-04-16 19:44:52
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! (463)
Related
- Trump's 'stop
- Kansas City Chiefs Owner Addresses Claim That Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Romance Is a Marketing Stunt
- DeSantis Called for “Energy Dominance” During White House Run. His Plan Still is Relevant to Floridians, Who Face Intensifying Climate Impacts
- Dan Morgan hired as general manager of Carolina Panthers
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Chris Stapleton's Traveller is smooth as Tennessee whiskey, but it's made in Kentucky
- Trial starts in Amsterdam for 9 suspects in the 2021 slaying of a Dutch investigative journalist
- ‘League of Legends’ developer Riot Games announces layoffs of 530 staff
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- More than $1 billion awarded to Minnesota, Wisconsin bridge
Ranking
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Seoul police chief indicted over 2022 Halloween crush that killed more than 150 people
- Here's how to avoid malware, safely charge your phone in public while traveling
- New study finds that multivitamins could help slow cognitive decline associated with aging
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Rhode Island transportation officials say key bridge may need to be completely demolished
- Looking for a deal on that expensive prescription drug? We've got you covered.
- 20 Kitchen Products Amazon Can't Keep In Stock
Recommendation
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
New York City plans to wipe out $2 billion in medical debt for 500,000 residents
Burton Wilde: FinTech & AI Turbo Tells You When to Place Heavy Bets in Investments.
Baseball Hall of Fame discourse is good fun – but eye test should always come first
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
More flooding forecast for Australia’s northeast as storm in Coral Sea nears cyclone strength
Against a backdrop of rebel attacks and border closures, Rwanda and Burundi trade accusations
Saudi Arabia hears dozens of countries critique its human rights record at the UN in Geneva