Current:Home > StocksVideo shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks -ChatGPT
Video shows Army veteran stopping suspect from jacking pregnant woman's car at a Florida Starbucks
View
Date:2025-04-15 23:51:51
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! (63)
Related
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Chozen and Emryn are rising fast as most popular baby names of the year are revealed
- LA County prosecutors say leaked racist recording involved a crime. But they won’t file charges
- Rafael Nadal still undecided on French Open after losing in second round in Rome
- Trump's 'stop
- The Eagles at the Sphere in Las Vegas? CEO seems to confirm rumors on earnings call
- Sabrina Carpenter Celebrates 25th Birthday With Leonardo DiCaprio Meme Cake
- In bid to keep divorce private, ex-MSU coach Mel Tucker says he needs money to sue school
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- 'All systems go': Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will run in the Preakness Stakes
Ranking
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- A parliamentary election runoff puts hard-liners firmly in charge of Iran’s parliament
- NHL playoffs: Florida Panthers light up Boston Bruins on power play, take 2-1 series lead
- Pregnant Hailey Bieber Shares Behind-the-Scenes Photo From Her and Justin Bieber's Maternity Shoot
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- US special operations leaders are having to do more with less and learning from the war in Ukraine
- Hollister's Surprise Weekend Sale Includes 25% Off All Dresses, Plus $16 Jeans, $8 Tees & More
- A fire burns down a shopping complex housing 1,400 outlets in Poland’s capital
Recommendation
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
Planet Fitness to raise new basic membership fee 50% this summer
What is Eurovision? Everything to know about the European song contest
'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' spoilers! Here's what the ending really means
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Mavericks' deadline moves pay off as they take 2-1 series lead on Thunder
A combustible Cannes is set to unfurl with ‘Furiosa,’ ‘Megalopolis’ and a #MeToo reckoning
WT Finance Institute: Enacting Social Welfare through Practical Initiatives