Current:Home > NewsVideo shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks -Capitatum
Video shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks
Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-07 05:25:04
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! (7)
Related
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Could LIV Golf event at Doral be last for Saudi-backed league at Donald Trump course?
- A police officer who was critically wounded by gunfire has been released from the hospital
- Writers will return to work on Wednesday, after union leadership votes to end strike
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Mississippi announced incentives for company days after executive gave campaign money to governor
- Danielle Fishel meets J. Cole over 10 years after rapper name-dropped her in a song: 'Big fan'
- Millions of Americans will lose food assistance if the government shuts down
- Man charged with murder in death of beloved Detroit-area neurosurgeon
- Jason Ritter Shares How Amazing Wife Melanie Lynskey Helped Him Through Sobriety Journey
Ranking
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- With spying charges behind him, NYPD officer now fighting to be reinstated
- Shimano recalls bicycle cranksets in U.S. and Canada after more than 4,500 reports
- Smooth as Tennessee whiskey: Jack Daniel's releases rare new single malt. How to get it.
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Lionel Messi in limbo ahead of Inter Miami's big US Open Cup final. Latest injury update
- When do new 'American Horror Story: Delicate' episodes come out? Schedule, cast, how to watch
- Hunter Biden sues Rudy Giuliani in latest 'laptop' salvo
Recommendation
Hidden Home Gems From Kohl's That Will Give Your Space a Stylish Refresh for Less
Dior triumphs with Parisian runway melding women’s past and future
Alexandra Grant Shares Rare Insight Into Relationship with Keanu Reeves
Horoscopes Today, September 26, 2023
Your Wedding Guests Will Thank You if You Get Married at These All-Inclusive Resorts
JPMorgan to pay $75 million to victims' fund as part of Jeffrey Epstein settlement
Did Taylor Swift put Travis Kelce 'on the map'? TikTok trend captures hilarious reactions
Kim Zolciak Files to Dismiss Kroy Biermann Divorce for a Second Time Over NSFW Reason