Holly MatkinAston, PA – A quick-thinking pizza deliveryman gave police a perfectly-timed assist when he tripped up a suspect who was running from them last Sunday (video below).
Brookhaven police said the incident began shortly after 3:30 p.m. on April 16, when officers spotted a Kia that had been reported as stolen from Upper Darby, KABC reported.
The driver refused to stop, resulting in a high-speed chase through Middletown Township.
The suspect ultimately crashed the stolen ride on Preston Street, then bailed out and took off running, KABC reported.
“A car just came up doing like 75, he beached on the side of this person’s lawn and almost took out a couple of cars,” recounted Tyler Morell, a Coccos Pizza driver who was out making a delivery in the neighborhood when the mayhem unfolded.
Security footage showed Morell standing on a customer’s porch – pizza box in hand – as the crash occurred.
“That’s a high-speed chase!” a woman who answered the door exclaimed.
By then, Morell was already making his way back towards the street.
Security footage showed the fleeing suspect sprinting down the sidewalk towards the deliveryman as police closed in.
“I started walking towards the road, but I couldn’t do anything with my hands because I’m holding the pizza,” Morell told KABC. “So, I just stuck my leg out.”
Morell’s swift action took the fleeing suspect’s feet out from beneath him and sent him soaring head-first onto the sidewalk, the video showed.
Officers then swooped in behind the suspect and placed him under arrest.
“He gave us the help we needed. By tripping him, it gave us the time to catch up with the gentleman,” Brookhaven Police Chief Michael Vice told KABC. “In this case, this guy ultimately saved the day. And I hear the pizza was saved as well!”
Morell completed his delivery without further issue.
“Ten out of 10 delivery,” resident Danielle Yeager said of her order, according to KABC.
Morell said he was happy to assist the officers.
“I am so sick of seeing crime go on, especially half a mile down the road,” Morell told KABC. “So, if they needed a hand or a foot, I was there.”
His employer was also pleased to learn about his heroic effort and shared footage of the incident on the Coccos Pizza Aston Facebook page.
“Special shoutout to our delivery driver Tyler, who assisted the Brookhaven police today, and STILL delivered the food unharmed!!” the video caption read.
Police said they suspect Morell tripped up was a juvenile, KABC reported.
They also arrested a second suspect – 19-year-old Jhonael Gutierrez-Tejada – who was found sitting inside the stolen car, according to WSAZ.
Both have been charged with multiple counts, including resisting arrest, fleeing and eluding, and a slew of traffic offenses, KABC reported.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Obscene Language:
WATCH: 🍕Cocos Pizza Aston delivery driver finds himself in the middle of a high speed chase. His hands may have been full…. but his quick feet helps stop a suspect fleeing from Brookhaven Police.
More details tonight on @6abc pic.twitter.com/C6hfRU3oRy
— Bryanna Gallagher (@BGallagherTV) April 17, 2023
