Posted on 12/31/2017 10:53:36 AM PST by JoeProBono
KOKOMO, Ind. (WTHR) - A 9-year-old boy in Kokomo scared a would-be robber away from stealing his dad's truck.
But then that man ended up taking another car and leading them on a high-speed chase before crashing and being arrested.
All of this started at the One Stop Express on the corner of Washington and Jefferson in Kokomo, then ended at the American Tool Rental on South Lafountain Street.
Kevin Cooksey and Kyle Sparling stopped by the One Stop as strangers for different reason, Cooksey needed ibuprofen for his wife and Sparling wanted Doritos. They didn't know they'd end up leaving together and chasing after someone they say tried to steal both their cars.
“When I saw my truck door open, I was like, ‘oh my God, what am I going to tell my wife?’” said Cooksey.
That's because Cooksey's 9 year old son, Larry Larimore, was inside - with the engine running.
“I was thinking, I hope my son knew what to do in that situation,” said Cooksey.
“As soon as he opened the door, I got scared,” said Larimore. “So I pulled out the pellet gun and pointed it to his head.”
That scared the man enough to get him out of the truck, but then he ran into the next car down - Sparling's black Trail Blazer, which also had its engine running.
“I didn't know what to think, I just kind of ran outside and watched him,” said Sparling.
“I wanted to go catch the guy,” said Cooksey. “It's just one of those instincts to help out somebody else.”
Cooksey told Sparling to get in the truck with them. They called the police and chased the suspect down Washington Street.
“Right up here by this church, he got up on the sidewalk over here and got back on the road,” said Cooksey. “At this point, we were doing about 70 miles per hour.”
“It was doing donuts, zig zags, almost flipped,” said Larimore.
“I was just glad he didn't wreck into anybody,” said Sparling. “That was my biggest fear, I think.”
“I thought he was going to come back at me,” said Cooksey. “I thought I was going to have to dodge a moving car with my 9 year old son in the truck.”
After a couple miles, the suspect crashed Sparling’s car. Larimore says he's glad he and his dad were able to help track the suspect down.
In ‘66 you probably didn’t even have seat belts in the car. :)
How did we survive?
Newer cars are impossible to steal without the magnetically coded key. Thus the increase in car jackings. It is really stupid to leave a car running with your kids in it. This is no hero.
My new neighbor up north has promised to take me *moose clickin*. Can’t wait. >8-P
Psst! You were supposed to ask what *moose clickin'* is.
FWIW wanna know why the privacy evergreens are a funny shape, about 3/4 of the way to the top?
https://m.cbhomes.com/p/851/4671047/5f0880c676cf4Cc/main.jpg
Moose nibblin'. :)
If you walk away from your Car with it running and you have the Key in your pocket a chime will go off.
The Car will continue to run even if you are standing there watching the Carjacker drive away in your Car.
If he shuts it off, it won’t restart.
“How did we survive?”
I know. My dad didn’t even hide away his guns/liquor in a safe. How irresponsible! Guess they just felt they had raised us right and trusted us to be responsible. What a crazy concept!
“You were supposed to ask what *moose clickin’* is. “
I know, but you’ve also asked how to sharpen a knife and I never have superbly done so despite various attempts.
Life is strange.
Hell, I thought my name was “Goddammit!” ‘Till I was 18 years old.
“I don’t get this “leave the car running” stuff when parking in front of a Convenience Store”
And leaving your 9 year old in the running vehicle. Story of two dimwits leaving vehicles running in a parking lot for anyone to take
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