On August 6th 2017, I encountered three real life superheroes. One was fast, like lightning, in his physical speed and his mental response. He heard a lady screaming for help and his IMMEDIATE response was to run to her aid. (Thank you Derek Moore!)
After lunch on the Daytona boardwalk I decided to head back up to the hotel pool. As I was walking toward the steps of the hotel pool a man came behind me and forcibly grabbed my wallet and ran. The wallet had many credit cards, identification cards, a little cash and the key fab to drive the van that would get us all home.
I began chasing him as fast as I could but he was VERY fast. I screamed the whole time I ran "HE STOLE MY WALLET! HE STOLE MY WALLET! HE STOLE MY WALLET!"
He ran out from the beach to the side road and kept running down and across the main street. I kept running after him and screaming.
The next thing I knew a VERY fast man came running from in front of me. When the thief saw him he threw my wallet and its contents all over the sidewalk and kept running. My new hero proceeded to tackle the thief to the ground while two other nearby heroes came to assist. They nailed this guy facedown to the ground while I called the police. When the criminal tried to get up one of the guys picked him up and slammed him back to the ground and they made sure he couldn't move after that until the police came. (Thank you Spencer Adams and Brandon Sellers!)
A kind lady who had started running beside me helped me gather my wallet and the spilled contents. She also helped talk to the 911 operator when my tears began to flow.
It turns out this man is on probation for assault and battery with a weapon. Thank God he did not have a weapon this time. These three men that came to my rescue did not care if he had a weapon or not. Their response was immediate and brave. They took control of the situation and made sure that I was safe and justice was served.
After the robber was arrested and put into the vehicle, he asked the police officer if he could talk to me. From the back of the police car the window was lowered and between the bars he said " I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry". I said, "You're young. You still have a lot of life to live. You need to make a change and start making better choices. If you were one of my kids I would want to shake you and remind you that you have a choice. It makes me sad that your life is so bad that you think you have to steal someone else's money to survive. You should know that Jesus loves you and He can give you a fresh start. I mess up every single day and Jesus forgives me."
He said, " I wish it could be different. I'm so sorry."
I said, "It definitely can be different. If Jesus died for you then anything is possible. Think about that from jail and make a change in the way you live. There is hope. And I forgive you."
Will I still press charges? Absolutely! I pray that the time behind bars will be the greatest thing that ever happened in this man's life. I pray that by robbing me today in Daytona Beach that his entire eternity could be changed.
I got to share Jesus with a criminal today. I still have all my credit cards, money and keys. And I have some new amazing friends that happen to be real-life super heroes disguised as wrestling coaches from California and Kentucky. I think robbing a lady outside a hotel that is hosting a national conference for wrestling coaches is not the stupidest thing this man ever did but it certainly wasn’t smart. I guess he wasn’t counting on the fact that not only do these guys have strength, speed and amazing submission moves, but they also have tremendous bravery and an authentic desire to serve and help others with their talents. I thank God for bringing us all together on Daytona’s strip for a life-changing encounter.
