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Pepper-Sprayed Teen Catches Alleged Jewel Thief
16 Oct
Summary
- High school senior Harry Cossyphas received a hero award from Miami Police.
- He pursued and detained a man accused of jewelry theft.
- Cossyphas was pepper-sprayed but continued his pursuit.
Miami Police have awarded a hero honor to high school senior Harry Cossyphas for his brave actions in apprehending a theft suspect. The incident took place on August 6th in Brickell when Cossyphas heard a woman shouting that a robber was attempting to steal her jewelry. Without hesitation, Cossyphas pursued the suspect, following him into an alley.
The suspect retaliated by pepper-spraying Cossyphas, but this did not deter the determined student. The chase continued to a Metromover station, where Cossyphas managed to tackle the suspect and hold him down until police arrived. He has since been nicknamed the 'Spider-Man of Brickell' by officers.
On Thursday, October 15th, Cossyphas was among 11 students honored by the Miami Police Department and the 'Do The Right Thing Program' for their community contributions. While citizens' arrests carry risks, Cossyphas expressed no regrets, emphasizing his desire to help the woman in need and serve as an inspiration. Police identified the suspect as 21-year-old Yagiz Dogan, who faced a charge of third-degree grand theft.
