Current:Home > ContactVideo shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks -Thrive Financial Network
Video shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks
View
Date:2025-04-17 23:05:17
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! (24927)
Related
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- 5-year-old boy who went missing while parent was napping is found dead near Oregon home, officials say
- Jax Taylor Breaks Silence on Brittany Cartwright Dating His Friend Amid Their Divorce
- Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Burger King's 'Million Dollar Whopper' finalists: How to try and vote on your favorite
- Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America
- King Charles III celebrates 76th birthday amid cancer battle, opens food hubs
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and More React to Craig Melvin Replacing Hoda Kotb as Co-Anchor
Ranking
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- 'Serial swatter': 18-year-old pleads guilty to making nearly 400 bomb threats, mass shooting calls
- Channing Tatum Drops Shirtless Selfie After Zoë Kravitz Breakup
- Louisville officials mourn victims of 'unthinkable' plant explosion amid investigation
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Atlanta man dies in shootout after police chase that also kills police dog
- What Republicans are saying about Matt Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general
- Donna Kelce Includes Sweet Nod to Taylor Swift During Today Appearance With Craig Melvin
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow's Son Moses Martin Reveals His Singing Talents at Concert
Today Reveals Hoda Kotb's Replacement
Manhattan rooftop fire sends plumes of dark smoke into skyline
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
Padma Lakshmi, John Boyega, Hunter Schafer star in Pirelli's 2025 calendar: See the photos
Traveling to Las Vegas? Here Are the Best Black Friday Hotel Deals
Jason Kelce Offers Up NSFW Explanation for Why Men Have Beards