A hero pizza delivery man helped police capture a suspected car thief by tripping them up with his foot while holding onto his order – and still delivered it safely to his customer.
Doorbell camera footage shows the remarkable moment cool-headed Tyler Morrell, 29, from Delaware County, trips the suspect as he attempts to flee police.
The delivery man appears at the front door of a customer’s home before he is distracted by the sound of a car screeching behind him.
As the homeowner exclaims: ‘That’s a high-speed chase!’ Morrell nonchalantly turns around and wanders back towards the action unfolding in front of him.
The getaway car then pulls up outside the home next door with two police cars in hot pursuit.
Doorbell camera footage shows pizza delivery man Tyler Morrell at the door of a customer before he is distracted by the sound of a car screeching behind him
As the homeowner screams, ‘It’s a high speed chase!’ Morrell nonchalantly turns around and wanders back towards the action unfolding on the street
The two suspected car thieves pull up in their vehicle with two police cars in hot pursuit
One remains in the car, but the other attempts to flee on foot before encountering Morrell
The delivery man casually sticks out a foot, sending the suspect tumbling into the arms of cops
But as the suspect attempts to flee on foot, he encounters Morrell, who sticks out a leg and sends the man tumbling into the hands of cops.
Morrell does all this while holding a pizza box, dressed casually dressed in trainers, shorts and a T-shirt.
Unfazed by the ongoing arrest behind him, he returns to his duties and safely delivers his order before leaving.
Brookhaven Police were so grateful to the have-a-go hero that they jokingly offered him a job, sharing the video on Facebook alongside the caption: ‘Thank you sir for the assist!!! If you’re interested in a job we are always looking for good people. Coccos Pizza Aston – you have great employees!’
His employers were equally impressed. ‘Special shoutout to our delivery driver Tyler, who assisted the Brookhaven police today, and STILL delivered the food unharmed!!’ they wrote on Facebook.
Morrell tried to downplay his heroics in an interview with Fox 29.
‘Honestly I didn’t really think about doing anything, but stepping in. I was raised to step in if you see something that’s not right. So, I just wanted to do my part,’ he said, adding: ‘I did as much as I could to prevent the cheese from sliding.’
He even suggested to CBS that he felt bad for hurting the suspect. ‘I guess I put my leg out a little too hard and ended up kicking him a little bit.
‘So, I got a little bit to show on my leg for it, but it is what it is. It definitely paid off in the end. I definitely did not wake up today coming up here to do this. I thought I was just delivering pizza.’
Some on social media suggested he should be rewarded for his actions. Franklin Long commented on Facebook: ‘Great move, hope he got a big tip.’
Charlene Pugh said: ‘Give that guy a raise. Great job Tyler and Brookhaven PD.’
Morrell tried to down play his heroics, saying he just wanted to play his part in helping the cops
A GoFundMe Page under Morrell’s name appears to have been set up after Cocco’s was inundated with calls from people wanting to offer him a tip.
The page says: ‘Delco Delivery Pizza guy here, due to the high volume of calls to my work with all the love and support, I wanted to give those asking an opportunity to send me a tip! Thank you so much, I can not believe how fast this train is moving! All proceeds will go towards the start-up cost of Morrell Cheesesteak Company inspired by the tragic events of 9/11.’
Brookhaven Police Chief Mike Vice later said he didn’t want the incident to encourage the public to get involved in police chases.
He said he ‘applauded’ Morrell’s actions, but ‘we do want people to know that we generally, we don’t want them to intervene’, adding: ‘We like to take care of it ourselves.’
Police confirmed two teenagers, 17 and 19 years old, were driving a stolen car.
The two teenagers were charged with receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding police, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, resisting arrest and related traffic offenses.
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