The wilder the story the more interest it generates. 12 years ago one of my buddies made news for stopping a robbery. The story went viral, and the community raised all sorts of money to help pay for his medical expenses and car.
GOOD SAMARITANS STOP PURSE SNATCHERS IN GLASTONBURY
By DAVID OWENS
Hartford Courant
August 15, 2009
GLASTONBURY — Two good Samaritans helped police collar three teens, one of whom allegedly robbed a woman outside a Hebron Avenue bank Friday afternoon.
It was a dramatic few minutes near the Webster Bank and the Diamond Pub and Grill on Hebron Avenue. Maureen Goldstein, her 11/2-year-old daughter, Nicole, in her arms, had just made a withdrawal from an ATM about 2:30 p.m. and was trying to get her three children into her car.
"All of a sudden someone grabbed my purse from behind," Goldstein said Friday night. "It kind of spun me around and the purse dropped to the ground. I went to grab it." The 17-year-old beat Goldstein to the purse, grabbed it and ran off to the parking lot behind the pub.
"I scooped up the baby and chased [them] across New London Turnpike," she said. "I was yelling 'Stop, stop, he stole my money, he stole my purse.' "
In the parking lot behind the Diamond Pub, the purse snatcher and his two friends climbed into a gold Mitsubishi Diamante that had been carjacked in Hartford last week.
A passer-by, who was not identified, tried to prevent the teens - two 17-year-olds and a 13-year-old from Hartford - from getting away.
"A struggle ensued there and the car stalled," said Glastonbury police Sgt. Joel White. The driver got the car going and drove toward Concord Street. That's where a second good Samaritan, Joe Janty, 46, of East Hartford, joined the fray. He was headed to the post office, but ran after the teens after hearing Goldstein's screams. Janty said he thought the teens had taken her child.
The car carrying the three was driving toward Janty and he said it was jump and hope for the best or get run over.
"I jumped as high as I could, turned and caved in the whole windshield," Janty said, shortly after arriving home from St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Then Janty fell through the car's open sunroof into the car and into the laps of two of the teens.
"They were beating on me," Janty said, adding that he got a few shots in, too. The car continued on, striking Janty's 1969 Camaro, running the stop sign at Hebron Avenue, then crashing into some bushes and a building across Hebron Avenue.
At some point the 13-year-old and one 17-year-old got out of the car. The driver tried to get out, too, but Janty wrapped his arms around him.
"I wasn't letting him get away," Janty said. The first good Samaritan caught up and joined Janty in holding the teen until police arrived. It was all over in a few minutes, he said.
Glastonbury officers fanned out and caught the 13-year-old and the other 17-year-old.
Goldstein said she was touched that so many people went to her aid.
"I'm just really impressed with how many people stopped and tried to find out what happened, tried to help," Goldstein said. "People were making sure I was OK, the kids were OK. I was just touched that so many people cared."
Janty, who said he was in quite a bit of pain, said he initially thought the teens had snatched a child. "I have kids, young kids," he said.
The self-employed elevator installer was also lamenting the damage to his car, and was concerned about how he'd pay his hospital bill. He said he has no health insurance.
Police said the Mitsubishi was carjacked last week from a woman who stopped at the Albany Avenue McDonald's. She placed an order and as she waited to pick it up, a man rushed her and pulled her out of the car by her throat.
The 13-year-old was taken to a juvenile detention center in Hartford. The two 17-year-olds were held, with bail set at $500,000 each, and face a host of charges. The driver was charged with second-degree robbery, first-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident, risk of injury to a minor and other offenses. The 17-year-olds were not identified because they are youthful offenders.
