Customer Nabs Robber

Tulsa Police say a citizen turned hero, is the reason an armed robbery suspect is in the Tulsa County jail. 

Friday, August 8th 2008, 11:24 am

By: News On 6


Tulsa Police express their thanks to a citizen who helped them arrest an armed robbery suspect.  The News On 6's crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports police say a 44-year-old American Airlines employee is a hero and it was all caught on tape.

The fight wasn't easy.  The good Samaritan has injuries all because he was courageous enough to try to save himself and others in the Food Pyramid store, near 51st and Memorial, from a robber who seemed ready to hurt someone.

The robber walked into the store with his face completely covered and his gun already in his hand.  He told the employees and customers to move to the front of the store.  When a customer bent down, the robber fired a shot that barely missed the customer's head.

Then, the robber's gun jammed and that's when the good Samaritan, Greg Stutzman, jumped on the robber and the fight was on.

The battle moved through the store, out into the entryway and eventually outside.  Despite getting hurt in the process, Greg never gave up.

If it wasn't for Greg, police say they'd have no idea who the robber is, because, just as in previous Food Pyramid robberies, he was masked up and not identifiable.

Stutzman has their gratitude and even though they don't recommend fighting with robbers, they believe he did it just right.

"You have to win the fight.  You gotta keep going.  You can't quit because it hurts, and this guy proves you can win," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker.

Officers arrested 38-year-old Tony Cleveland.

Records show he has a number of robbery and assault convictions from Hughes and Oklahoma Counties, including a 25 year sentence in 1987.

Detectives say it's clear Cleveland isn't going to change his ways, so they hope he gets sent back to prison and they say a conviction in this case, should put him there for the rest of his life.

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