Ex Con Stops Robbery By Force

Grand Rapids, Michigan. On Nov. 30, Puhalski and his girlfriend went to the CVS to pick up a
prescription. Puhalski noticed that the man in front of him was attempting to rob the store.

Pulhalski said that the robber handed the pharmacy cashier a note and said, "'You have 30 seconds.'"

That's when Puhalski took action. He grabbed a nearby cane and hit the robber in the head. The two struggled. Puhalski hit the man several more times and then wrestled him to the ground outside the store.

"I just pushed him. like wham!" described Puhalski. "And he hits the breakaway doors at CVS. As soon as he hits the ground, I start tossing him around."

Police arrived quickly to arrest the robber, later identified as 23-year-old Alex Bainter.

After the incident, Puhalski got a signed letter from Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk in the mail. It read, in part, "On behalf of the Grand Rapids Police Department, it is my pleasure to thank you for your assistance."

It's the type of thank you Puhalski never expected to receive, especially since there was a time that Puhalski was the man robbing the store.

Puhalski served a total of eight years in prison for a few different crimes, the most serious of which was the armed robbery of a small outlet shop in 1997.

In 1997, Puhalski was the bad guy. Though he's been out of jail for six years, he's still on parole. That life experience, he said, played a major role in his decision to try to take the CVS robber down.

"It came rushing back to me, like oh my God, this guy is not doing what I think he's doing, especially in front of me," recalled Puhalski.

Puhalski said that prison forced him to grow up and mature.

Now, at 33 years old, Puhalski has a steady job and hopes his story will encourage the young suspect -- who he thinks was trying to steal drugs -- to do get his life together.

"The community should not have to go through this stuff," said Puhalski. "I truly apologize for my
actions in the past and at some point in time I hope he does too."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

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• crime
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• caught on tape
• raw video
• cctv
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[guesswho6468]

Except if you go to OTIS, he's an absconder since 12/13/2011....

[mizsoutiger]

haha robber got owned! awesome job. sounds like Puhalski is well on his way to a better life; im happy for him.