'Wanna Hop In?': Woman Gives La. Police Officer a Lift During Chase
What to know
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A Slidell police officer chasing a shoplifting suspect on foot got unexpected help from a passerby who offered him a ride as the suspects fled in a car.
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Sgt. Jeff Kahrs and the Good Samaritan followed the suspects while Kahrs relayed updates to other units, leading to both suspects’ arrests for theft and resisting an officer.
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Police later identified the helpful driver, whom Chief Daniel Seuzeneau praised for her quick thinking and community spirit.
“A Good Samaritan witnessed the events and realized that Sgt. Kahrs wasn’t near his patrol car. She offered Sgt. Kahrs a ride, to which Sgt. Kahrs graciously accepted,” police said.
“The citizen-officer duo safely followed the suspects, while Sgt. Kahrs gave a play to play to responding officers via his police radio. Moments later, several backup officers arrived and were able to take (the suspects) into custody.”
Kahrs rushed from the woman’s car before getting her name, which led to police posting a message that the department very much wanted to thank her – if they could find her.
She has since been identified by police, but her name has not yet been released.
The two suspects were arrested and charged with theft and resisting an officer by flight, police said. The woman is from Navarre, Florida, while the driver is a man from Biloxi, Mississippi, police said.
“To the good Samaritan, who I spoke with this morning, people like you are the reason why Slidell is a great place to live and work,” Slidell Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau said in a news release.
“Without hesitation, you assisted one of our officers ... expecting nothing in return. Thank you.”
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