WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – A 17-year-old is being hailed as a hero for his brave actions to stop a jewelry thief in Brickell.<\/p>\n
According to Miami Police, a 17-year-old good Samaritan took down a suspected jewelry thief in the area of Southeast 14th Street and Brickell Avenue, Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let him go, do not let him go,\u201d said a witness.<\/p>\n
Officials say it happened around 6 p.m., after a woman told officers about a man who wanted to buy her bracelets after expressing interest through Facebook Marketplace. When she took them off to give the man a closer look, he took off.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe robbed me, he robbed me,\u201d the woman told other bystanders.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old, who happened to be in the area, heard the woman\u2019s cries for help and pursued the man, pulling him to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he chased him from all the way over there, and then he sprayed him with pepper spray,\u201d said a witness.<\/p>\n
The alleged thief reportedly pulled out pepper spray in an attempt to escape the teen\u2019s clutches.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at that poor man. How dare you? Look at his eyes from the pepper spray,\u201d said a witness.<\/p>\n
\u201cHang in there, bro, police is coming,\u201d said another witness.<\/p>\n
Despite being sprayed, the teen refused to let the man go.<\/p>\n
One of the witnesses could be seen pouring water over the teen\u2019s face to help rinse his eyes off.<\/p>\n
Authorities did arrive a short time later. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Yagiz Dogan, was then taken into custody.<\/p>\n
Officers commended the good Samaritan\u2019s tenacity to overcome pepper spray to help stop the man.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with that, the kid is able to hold him and detain him until we arrived on the scene,\u201d said Miami Police Officer Michael Vega. \u201cWe give him props because what he did as a good Samaritan was worthy of being acknowledged, and he did an excellent job.\u201d<\/p>\n
While they praised the young man, officers also warned the public to be cautious if they decide to help in situations like this. They added that you never know if someone might be carrying a weapon, like a gun or knife.<\/p>\n
Late Friday afternoon, 7News spoke exclusively with the victim, Yuriko Torres, who called the young man a hero.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis guy came to help me, I feel safe with him. He did everything. He was my hero yesterday and, if it wasn\u2019t for him, I would\u2019ve lost everything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Torres recalled Thursday\u2019s events while visiting Miami for work.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt happened so fast,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said Dogan approached her and began to talk to her about the bracelets.<\/p>\n
According to the arrest report, \u201cVictim 1 then handed over the two bracelets to the defendant so he can see them. The defendant then took off running towards South Miami Avenue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen this type of thing in this country so I\u2019m completely surprised,\u201d said Torres.<\/p>\n
Torres ran after Dogan, pleading for help and calling police. By the time she caught up, the teenage good Samaritan had already secured Dogan in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe this type of person, hero exists,\u201d said Torres.<\/p>\n
Authorities said they found Torres\u2019 bracelets, which Torres said are worth thousands of dollars, inside of Dogan\u2019s bag after he was taken into custody.<\/p>\n
Dogan was charged with grand theft. He also faces similar charges stemming from another incident like this from July 18.<\/p>\n
On Friday afternoon, he posted bond but remains in jail as he gets fitted for an ankle monitor.<\/p>\n