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Video shows citizen tripping armed suspect being chased by police in Ohio

Posted at 7:40 PM, May 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-04 10:53:49-04

Officers in Columbus, Ohio are crediting a good Samaritan for tripping a suspect who was reaching into his waistband while being chased by officers. 

The police department released video from the April 3 incident on Thursday. 

Cameras captured the man, who Columbus Police are calling "Bill," casually sticking out his leg outside of a public library as the suspect ran behind him. The suspect then went flying into the sidewalk, giving officers an opportunity to arrest the unidentified suspect. 

Police said that they recovered a Glock 9 MM pistol with a high capacity extended clip containing 29 rounds near the suspect. Columbus Police added that citizen likely saved the suspect's life as officers might have shot the suspect for pulling out the gun. 

In the video released by Columbus Police, Bill said that he could see the suspect was holding something from his waistband.

"I heard him hit and the gun went sliding out," Bill said. "He went one way and the gun went another."

"Thank you 'Bill' for sticking your leg out for us," Columbus Police said on the department's Facebook page.

Columbus Police did not say what the 18-year-old suspect was wanted for.