- Tim Rodifer, the owner of Mr Transmission in Johnson City, Tennessee, tried to stop a thief from stealing a car waiting on service at his auto shop
- He jumped through the window to try to stop the man police identified as Cody Smith from speeding away
- Rodifer was left with a bruised hip and scrapes from the incident
- Police were able to identify the suspect through security footage that was spread over social media
This is the incredible moment an auto shop owner grabbed onto the side of a pick-up truck and was dragged as a thief sped away.
Tim Rodifer, the owner of Mr Transmission in Johnson City, Tennessee, saw a man climb into a truck he was servicing while he went inside to get paper work on Wednesday.
Rodifer immediately jumped and grabbed Smith through the open window of the gray 2006 Dodge Dakota, but the thief didn’t slow down. Instead the suspect sped away in reverse with Rodifer clinging to the side of the vehicle.
Tim Rodifer said he didn’t think twice about trying to stop the thief from taking the gray truck from outside of his auto shop
As the truck launched forward to speed out the parking lot, Rodifer let go, tumbled to the ground and rolled several times.
He was left with a bruised hip bone and scrapes and bruises from the incident.
After his daughter’s Facebook post of the video went viral, police identified the suspect as Cody Smith.
He was arrested an hour after the theft and has now been charged with car jacking, aggravated assault and driving on a revoked license according to WCYB.
Tim Rodifer (left) suffered a bruised hip bone and scrapes and bruises from trying to stop suspect Cody Smith (right) from stealing the truck
The video also gained traction on the Johnson City Police Crime Stoppers and Most Wanted.
Rodifer told the WCYB he didn’t hesitate when trying to stop the thief. Rodifer said: ‘Of course I sprinted as fast as I could to the vehicle, dove through the window.’
He owns Mr Transmission with his wife Laura.