Current:Home > reviewsVideo shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks -VisionFunds
Video shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks
NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-07 10:34:05
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! (93)
Related
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Skai Jackson announces pregnancy with first child: 'My heart is so full!'
- Who will be in the top 12? Our College Football Playoff ranking projection
- Investigators believe Wisconsin kayaker faked his own death before fleeing to eastern Europe
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Florida education officials report hundreds of books pulled from school libraries
- Republican Dan Newhouse wins reelection to US House in Washington
- Summer I Turned Pretty's Gavin Casalegno Marries Girlfriend Cheyanne Casalegno
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Judge sets April trial date for Sarah Palin’s libel claim against The New York Times
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Kentucky gets early signature win at Champions Classic against Duke | Opinion
- Louisiana House greenlights Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax cuts
- Garth Brooks wants to move his sexual assault case to federal court. How that could help the singer.
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Angels sign Travis d'Arnaud: Former All-Star catcher gets multiyear contract in LA
- Olivia Munn Randomly Drug Tests John Mulaney After Mini-Intervention
- Champions Classic is for elite teams. So why is Michigan State still here? | Opinion
Recommendation
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Officer injured at Ferguson protest shows improvement, transferred to rehab
College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
Pistons' Tim Hardaway Jr. leaves in wheelchair after banging head on court
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Stock market today: Asian stocks dip as Wall Street momentum slows with cooling Trump trade
MLS Star Marco Angulo Dead at 22 One Month After Car Crash
Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39