COVINGTON, Ga. — A teenage grocery store bagger tackled a suspected thief and held him until police arrived.
Robert Bradford told Channel 2's Michael Buczyner that he decided to get involved when he saw the man punch another employee in the face.
"It was instinct to jump on him. It happened real quick," Bradford said.
The Covington Police Department showed Channel 2 surveillance footage from the Kroger store along highway 278.
Bradford said he was standing near a checkout counter when he heard screaming and saw the suspected shoplifter punch a loss prevention employee.
In the video, the 17-year-old high school junior runs to help his coworker.
"I knew that was dangerous, but I knew I had to stop him. He was a threat," Bradford said.
The video shows Bradford tackling the man as he tried to leave the store. Bradford put the man in a headlock and wrestled him to the ground.
The two struggled for several minutes until police arrived.
Covington police said officers arrested Jeffery Pace. Police said Pace had three steaks, valued at $54, stuffed in his pants.
"My dad always told me to stand in the gap, stand up for what's right. That's what I did," Bradford said.
Bradford's father is a captain at the Covington Police Department, where the teen is also a member of the police explorer program.
WSBTV
