Local man steps in, tackles suspect running from IMPD
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A Indianapolis man is being hailed a hero after he suffered scrapes after helping Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers make an arrest.
Dean Hunsucker relived a moment Friday he’ll never forget by showing 24-Hour News 8 where he tackled a teen. About a week ago, he was in an alley, when he heard shouts.
“A police officer was yelling, ‘Police, stop. Police stop, stop, stop,” Hunsucker said. IMPD was chasing a teen from a house on North Gray Street after a group was caught trespassing and smoking weed.
Officers chased him for several blocks, until Hunsucker stepped in. “We both went down,” Hunsucker said. “He went forward, I went backward. My head was the first thing to hit the ground. I tore up my knuckles, and I tore up my head pretty good.”
The bloody knuckles and head didn’t upset this Good Samaritan. He wasn’t bothered until he looked at his watch and realized it got busted in the tackle.
“I looked at the officer, and he said, ‘Are you ok?’ Hunsucker said. “I said, ‘I’m fine, but my watch!”
He recently paid more than $400 for the device. He shared the story on social media, which reached the watch maker.
The company told Hunsucker it would replace the watch. “It was really awesome to see that company come by and stand beside somebody that was backing the blue,” Hunsucker said.
Hunsucker hopes his story inspires others to do the same. “If you got an opportunity to back the blue, you need to take it,” Hunsucker said. “That helps your community.”
But Hunsucker doesn’t only want to give the community a message. At good news ministry, he works with at-risk teens.
So he’s hoping this back alley encounter will also turn the teen’s life around. “Next time an officer asks you to stop, just stop. It’s always easier to do the right thing, and let it get sorted out later,” Hunsucker said.
IMPD will thank Hunsucker next week. IMPD Chief Troy Riggs will present him with some items to thank him for his help.
