L. Scott Kelly
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L. Scott Kelly
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Nominated by John F. Carolan
Officers were dispatched to 436 Dwight St, (Massachusetts State Building) Springfield, MA for a call of an unarmed robbery. Dispatch stated that a suspect was being detained by passersby at the scene. Upon police arrival, we were met by the victim (who shall remain anonymous) and Mr. Larry Scott Kelly. The suspect, a convicted felon, was being detained in the rear of a motor vehicle watched by an off duty parole officer who was just leaving the rear of the state building and witnessed what was happening. The victim stated to police that she was just leaving work with a fellow employee, when she noticed the suspect loitering in front of the building, staring at her. As the victim went to cross Dwight St., the man who had been staring at her ran up to her and grabbed on to her purse, which was over her shoulder. She briefly struggled to maintain her purse, but the suspect overpowered her and got the purse. The victim, a woman in her mid-fifties, tried to give chase, but lost sight of the suspect as he ran around the corner down Lyman St. by the train station.
As this crime was happening, Mr. Larry Scott Kelly observed it from a parking lot directly across the street. Without hesitation and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, Mr. Kelly gave chase to the suspect, who was running, still clutching the victim's purse. Mr. Kelly closed ground on the suspect and caught up to him within several seconds (a distance of approximately 100-150 yards) at the corner of Lyman St. and Kaynor St (which is directly behind the Mass. State Building). The suspect, seeing Mr Kelly chasing him, threw the purse to the ground in an effort to flee. Mr. Kelly bravely tackled the suspect to the concrete sidewalk, again in complete disregard for his own personal safety. Mr. Kelly held the suspect on the ground until off duty parole officers and a State Building security guard came to assist him. The victim described Mr. Kelly as "the fastest angel that I have ever seen, coming to my rescue" or words to that effect.
Mr Kelly's selfless actions and bravery at the risk of his own personal safety reflect great credit upon himself and the citizens of Hampden County.
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