Fullerton : City Honors 5 Men for Assisting Police
It does pay to get involved--at least for five residents who were honored for their bravery in assisting the police in two separate incidents.
The City Council this week awarded commendations to Evaristo Garcia Avila, Ruben Rocha, William John Robinson, Guillermo Felix Chavarria and Edmundo Jose Polacios.
Vice Mayor Richard C. Ackerman, in the mayor’s absence, praised the men for getting involved. He said their “selfless acts of courage demonstrated the highest degree of concern for the welfare of others.”
Avila, 21, and Rocha, 27, assisted a police officer in arresting a suspect for disorderly conduct and aided the officer when he was set upon by a crowd.
During the March incident, the officer apparently was overwhelmed by a group of the suspect’s friends trying to prevent the arrest. Because Avila and Rocha volunteered their help in controlling the crowd, the officer was able to apprehend the suspect and radio for help.
The other three, Robinson, 25, Chavarria, 20, and Polacios, 21, captured a suspected purse snatcher in a market parking lot last month.
Police said that the victim was knocked to the ground and that her purse was stolen outside a market. Robinson, Chavarria and Polacios were standing nearby when they heard the woman’s screams, apprehended the 16-year-old suspect and held him until police arrived.
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