A fleeing car thief, preying on families with babies and old people. The end of the line was a rear-naked choke, deftly applied by a Lakeland citizen driving past the locale at the time, Josh Hagan, 35.
“I knew what I was going to do right away and didn’t even think twice about it,” said Hagan to local newspaper The Ledger.
According to the newspaper, it was five in the afternoon when the 21-year-old villain, Michael McCoy Jr., tried to steal a car from a family near a grocery store. With three babies in the back seat, the father reacted, struggling with the assailant, who then ran off to try and steal the car of a 75-year-old man. Hero of the day Josh Hagan witnessed the first robbery attempt and went in pursuit of the young delinquent.
Hagan, who has been practicing Jiu-Jitsu with Brazilian Fabio Novaes for the last five years, sunk the choke hold and put McCoy’s lights out for a few instants, until the police arrived, about five minutes later.
The authorities generally urge people not to react to robberies, but this time the thief, unarmed, was caught by the neck.
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