Civilian helps police disarm suspect
Braves gunfire; lauded as hero
A Good Samaritan helped Springfield police officers disarm a robbery suspect who allegedly grabbed one officer’s service weapon during a struggle Tuesday and fired two shots that narrowly missed the officers and the civilian, according to authorities.
Springfield police identified the alleged assailant as Joseph Gonzalez, a 41-year-old city resident. He allegedly robbed a Metro PCS store on Armory Street at knifepoint Tuesday afternoon, prompting law enforcement to respond to the area, according to a police statement.
A short time later an officer spotted Gonzalez on Chapin Terrace, and a struggle ensued, officials said. A Good Samaritan, identified as Pedro Perez, saw the fracas as he drove by and immediately stopped to help.
Perez “jumped out of his vehicle and attempted, along with the officer, to restrain the suspect,” the statement said. “Gonzalez was able to grab ahold of the officer’s service pistol as an assisting officer arrived.”
As the struggle continued, Gonzalez allegedly managed to fire two shots from the service weapon, according to the statement. One round struck Gonzalez’s own hand, police said, and the second shot hit Perez’s truck.
Officers then took the gun from Gonzalez and placed him under arrest, the statement said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment for his injuries, as was one of the officers involved in the struggle, police said, adding that authorities said they recovered a large knife and cash stolen from the store.
“Without the help of Mr. Perez there undoubtedly would have been a much different outcome to this incident,” Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood said in the statement. “His actions in all likelihood saved the lives of two Springfield Police Officers.
Clapprood added that “these officers displayed a degree of professionalism and bravery that their families, our fellow officers, and the residents of the city they serve should be extremely proud of.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno also praised the actions of the officers and Perez. Sarno said that when he called Perez to personally thank him, “he simply and humbly stated this was the way he was brought up to help those in need.’'
Mastroianni’s Auto Body on Taylor Street has offered to fix Perez’s truck for free and provide him with transportation until his truck’s as good as new, officials said.
Meanwhile Gonzalez, police said, faces a slew of charges including armed and masked robbery and three counts of armed assault to murder. He is slated for arraignment Thursday in Springfield District Court, records show. It wasn’t immediately clear if he’d hired a lawyer.