Video Shows 'Hero' Man Tackling and Punching Purse Thief Who Snatched Old Woman's Bag

Deshawn Pressley is a "hero."

At least he is a hero according to Patricia Goins, 87, whose purse was stolen on December 5 inside a Kroger grocery store in Lemon Township, Ohio.

Pressley and Goins were strangers having a casual conversation inside the supermarket – namely about his 1-year-old daughter.

Shortly thereafter, Pressley heard a scream from the next aisle over that he identified as a call for help. A man had reportedly stolen Goins' purse and was headed to the exit.

Pressley, without hesitation, chased after the alleged purse thief and tackled him to the ground in the parking lot. Surveillance footage showed him holding onto the alleged perpetrator, later identified as 58-year-old Derek Vaughn.

Law enforcement eventually arrived to arrest Vaughn. He was later charged with felony robbery and theft.

Goins spoke to Newsweek on December 20, saying she drove to Kroger after church because she needed multiple items to make soup. After speaking with Pressley, she headed for the checkout.

"I happened to think I forgot one thing I needed, so I turned around and went back," Goins said. "Just after I turned, (Vaughn) took the purse out of my cart. And the groceries were on top of my purse."

She screamed that her purse was stolen. That was when Pressley and others in the store chased after Vaughn.

"When something like that happens, it's like you're lost in time," Goins said, grateful for the response of her fellow shoppers.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones released a video discussing the incident and the alleged suspect.

"(Vaughn) made a terrible mistake," Jones said. "People in that store started running after him. I call it the equivalent of having the pitchforks out. They were angry as hell."

On December 16 the Butler County Sheriff's Office awarded Pressley with a Citizen's Award. He and Goins were reunited at the presentation.

Pressley said he "did what he had to do" as a citizen.

"I'm glad I helped (Goins) because she's a wonderful, lovely lady," Pressley said.

Jones, who presented Pressley with the award on December 16, called him "the man."

"This never went unnoticed," Jones said with Pressley and Goins by his side. "In our country, things are kind of tough, and when somebody jumps in and helps somebody... you make us very proud, not just here but everyone in the country, and we're proud of you."

The surveillance video has been viewed over 108,000 times. The video of the award being given to Pressley has been viewed over 411,000 times on the sheriff's department's Facebook page.

Comments poured in all over the internet, including from locals on the Butler County Sheriff's Department Facebook page.

"This gentleman is the epitome of what is right with our world and mankind," said commenter Lina Orr. "Wishing that young & old alike will learn from this amazing person & act!"

Nicole Baylard commented that she's happy Pressley and Goins are now friends, adding, "(It) just goes to show you that you never know who your angel is going to be."

"This world is such a scary, awful place sometimes and then something like this happens and it restores my faith back in humanity," commented Janna Smith.

Goins said that when she went outside after Vaughn was caught, she told him that if he needed anything he should have just asked. Vaughn was repeatedly apologizing to Pressley, Goins said.

"(Pressley's) a very nice young man," she said, adding that the pair hopes to keep in touch. She called his daughter, who was inside the store, a "doll baby."

"I feel that there are still good people in this world, and they showed it that day," Goins said. "The response was truly overwhelming."

Pressley could not be reached for additional comment.

Uncommon Knowledge

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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