The mayhem during the arrest of a man behind a Starbucks was captured on police body-cam video.
According to the Ocala Police Department, 39-year-old Michael Prouty was suspected of breaking into a woman’s home at The Villages, a retirement community outside Ocala, on Oct. 24. Prouty is accused of stealing a pocketbook, a cellphone, and a Cadillac from her garage.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR NEWSLETTERLater, in Ocala, an officer saw Prouty driving the Cadillac and attempted to pull him over, but he refused. When he slammed into other automobiles in an intersection, the first onlooker came in to aid.
“I heard what sounded like a really loud crash. I looked over towards the gas station there on the corner and saw a Cadillac crashed into cars on (U.S. Highway) 441,” the man stated in a video to police.
He was able to hold Prouty and slow him down, but he managed to break free and run to a Starbucks.
Prouty attempted to carjack a vehicle from a woman at the drive-thru, which was captured on body-cam video.
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNELAfter then, a second spectator leaped out of a car behind Prouty and entered his vehicle, forcing him to leave once more. He then pursued Prouty to the rear of the Starbucks, where he was able to tackle and wrestle with him until police arrived.
Prouty was taken into custody and placed into the Marion County Jail. He was charged with fourteen charges of fleeing and eluding as well as attempted carjacking. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office will additionally charge him with the robbery at The Villages.
Both individuals were lauded as heroes by the Ocala police chief.
“We are proud of these two citizens for their heroic action, for helping our officers make the arrest, and for keeping our community safe,” Mike Balken, the city’s Police Chief, said. “We would like to let these heroic citizens know that we are currently hiring police officers, and we invite them to apply to our agency!”
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Furthermore, prior to the robbery at The Villages, Prouty was involved in a 7-Eleven robbery, according to authorities.
He has a history of burglary and robbery convictions.
Imagine if this happened in New York City. The good Samaritan would probably be charged with a crime, the cops would be reprimanded, and the criminals would be let out of jail with no bail quicker than the police could finish the paperwork.