(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – The lives of two police officers in Massachusetts were saved by a good Samaritan who rushed to their aid as they were struggling to arrest an armed suspect.
The incident in which good Samaritan Pedro Perez’s help proved vital to the two cops’ survival and a suspect’s successful arrest occurred in Springfield, Massachusetts, on December 27, Breitbart News reported.
According to an announcement by the Springfield Police Department, 41-year-old Joseph Gonzalez committed an armed robbery of a Metro PCS at around 12:25 pm as he threatened the staff with a knife and took an undisclosed sum of money from the cash register.
As he was getting away, however, Gonzalez was spotted by a police officer on Chapin Terrace. The policeman began to approach the suspect, leading to a struggle to take him down.
At that time, good Samaritan Pedro Perez was driving on Chapin Terrace. He reacted immediately after seeing the struggling policeman, jumping out of his car and coming to his aid. A second police officer also arrived on the spot.
However, during the struggle, Gonzalez managed to snatch one of the officers’ pistols and began firing at the two police officers and Perez.
“One round struck his own hand and another hit Perez’ truck. Both shots narrowly missed both officers and Perez,” the Springfield Police Department revealed.
Despite that, the two police officers managed to seize the firearm from Gonzales and arrested him.
Both the suspect and the first police officer were hospitalized for treatment of the injuries they sustained during the struggle.
Upon searching Gonzalez, the police discovered an undisclosed amount of cash and a large knife.
The Springfield Police Department and city officials lauded Perez’s good Samaritan actions as they likely saved the police officers’ lives during the struggle to subdue the armed robber.
“Without the help of Mr. Perez there undoubtedly would have been a much different outcome to this incident,” said Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood.
“His actions, in all likelihood, saved the lives of two Springfield Police Officers,” he added.
The local authorities also heaped praise on Pedro Perez.
“This incident could have ended very differently, but thanks to the efforts from this good Samaritan, Pedro Perez, who was in the right place at the right time, he was able to provide assistance to our officers who were trying to detain the suspect,” stated Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
“When I called Mr. Perez to thank him, he simply and humbly stated this was the way he was brought up to help those in need,” the mayor revealed further.
Clapprood and Sarno also lauded the two officers’ heroic efforts to catch and arrest the criminal.
Gonzalez has been charged with multiple offenses: “three counts of firearm-armed assault to murder; two counts of assault and battery on a police officer; armed and masked robbery; discharging a police weapon” and several more.
A good Samaritan is being praised for saving the lives of two police officers during the arrest of an armed robbery suspect that almost turned deadly. https://t.co/hYvss695Fz
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 5, 2023
