On May 8, the Emergency Communications Center broadcast a theft in progress at BJ’s Wholesale Club in California.
Information was given that a male suspect had stolen a television and citizens were attempting to prevent the suspect from fleeing the scene. Jason Brown was in the parking lot that evening loading his purchases into his vehicle when he observed a man running from the store with a television box in his arms. An employee exited the store yelling that the man had just stolen the television. Without hesitation Brown pursued the suspect on foot through the parking lot. Jeramiah Cooper witnessed the events and began driving his vehicle towards the end of the parking lot in an attempt to corner the suspect and prevent him from fleeing. Brown caught the suspect and took him to the ground.
Deputy Thomas Seyfried was the first to arrive on the scene and immediately observed Brown and Cooper detaining the suspect on the ground. The suspect was arrested and charged with theft over $500, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia which were located on his person. Subsequently the suspect also had an open warrant for his arrest.
As a result of their heroic actions, Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office presented Mr. Jason Brown and Mr. Jeramiah Cooper with a Sheriff’s Commendation on June 10.
