NJ firefighter chases down shoplifter www.privateofficer.com
CLIFTON NJ April 30 2011 — A shoplifter trying to flee the Home Depot on Bloomfield Avenue with $800 worth of unpaid merchandise didn’t stand a chance with Clifton Firefighter Anthony Latona chasing him, according to police.
On April 21, at about 9:45 a.m. Clifton firefighter Latona saw the suspect, later identified as Luis Gonzalez-Perez, 46, of Passaic, running out of the hardware store with unpaid merchandise and chased him, said detective Capt. Robert Rowan.
When the suspect realized he was being chased, he abandoned the cart full of unpaid merchandise and continued fleeing, but within minutes, Latona caught up with him and held him until police officers arrived, Rowan said.
Rowan said officers took the suspect back to the store where employees identified Gonzalez-Perez as the shoplifter and he was charged.
“We appreciate the assistance from our public safety partners,” Rowan said, adding “If it wasn’t for Firefighter Latona the suspect would have gotten away with a pretty large haul.”
The cart of merchandise was recovered and returned to the store.
Source:NorthJersey.com
