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Powerlifter Takes Down Bag Thief, Leaves with More than Souvenirs

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Miurell Vargas, a 26-year-old powerlifter, had a rather eventful day on March 29 when her vehicle was broken into and her bag and wallet stolen. The spirited athlete was undeterred, immediately embarking on a search for her stolen possessions, driving around in her car with an eagle eye for her distinctive Nike bag.

Interestingly, Vargas wasn’t particularly concerned about any cash that might have been in her wallet. The treasure she sought was far more significant and irreplaceable. Vargas elucidated, “My mom’s picture was in my wallet. And my mom passed away eight years ago.”

Unfortunately, the chase took an unexpected turn. Vargas found herself involved in a car accident near NW 2nd Avenue and 22nd Lane in the Miami neighborhood of Wynwood. As fate would have it, the surveillance camera captured the entire event.

In a twist of fate, it appears that Vargas caught sight of the thief around the time of the collision. With a quick exit from her damaged vehicle, she confronted him on a nearby sidewalk. Vargas recounts, “I tried to force and grab my wallet, and he didn’t want to let go of it… So, that’s when I started punching him — because it was either me or him.”

According to Vargas, the suspect was quite vocal during their encounter. “He was yelling that it wasn’t my bag and that I was crazy,” she stated. However, the suspect, later identified as Luis Machado, was soon apprehended by the police and left with a souvenir from his encounter with Vargas – a black eye.

Although Machado admitted to possession of Vargas’ property, he denied breaking into her vehicle. As Kiara Delva of Miami police noted, “He admitted to having some of the victim’s property, but then he claims he didn’t know how the property became in his possession, which obviously were conflicting statements that didn’t make sense.”

Machado now faces charges of burglary, criminal mischief, and petty theft. He is accused of breaking Vargas’ car window and stealing her belongings while she was at work.

Regrettably, the vehicle of the innocent bystander involved in the crash was also totaled. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported. Vargas, who was ticketed for the accident, expressed remorse to the other driver. “I just want to say sorry to the person that I crashed into… She gave me a hug. She was very nice. I just want to say sorry to her.”

Vargas admitted to the police that she was so engrossed in pursuing the suspected thief that she ended up colliding with another car. But she didn’t sound regretful. “So, that was sentimental value for me that I needed to recover,” she said. “That’s why I did it.”

She further admitted, “I had so much adrenaline in me that I didn’t think about the consequences.” Vargas’ story serves as a powerful testament to the lengths a person will go to protect what matters to them the most.


In light of the incident involving a female powerlifter chasing down a bag thief and handling the situation herself, how do you perceive the relation of personal safety and self-defense?

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2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Bret

    May 14, 2024 at 2:11 pm

    The police never would have found the suspect nor would she have gotten her belongings back. A number of reasons for this. Insufficient numbers of police, rampant high crime rates everywhere, non prosecution of these criminals. And the police want to tell us to not do what she did. The police are minutes away when you only have seconds to protect you and yours.

  2. Marian Toto

    May 14, 2024 at 10:11 pm

    Of course, she is entitled to retrieve her possessions as she was capable and trained.

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Preparedness

Concealed Carrier Defends Against Alleged Threat in Road Rage Incident

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A recent road rage incident in Illinois escalated to gunfire when a concealed-carrying motorist felt threatened by an approaching individual. The confrontation unfolded at the intersection of Busey Avenue and Park Street in Urbana, drawing a swift response from local police.

The altercation began as a verbal dispute between a man driving alone and a couple in another vehicle. Tensions rose when the solo driver attempted to distance himself from the pursuing pair by pulling into a hospital emergency room parking lot before exiting onto Park Street.

As the situation intensified, the couple continued their pursuit, stopping their car at Park Street. The female driver armed herself with a baseball bat, while her male passenger approached the lone motorist.

The solo driver, who held a concealed-carry permit, reported that the approaching male appeared to have his hand under his shirt, suggesting he might be armed. In response, the driver drew his legally concealed firearm and fired multiple shots, striking the male passenger.

Following the shooting, the driver promptly called 911 to report the incident. The injured male was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care.

Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made at this time. The police encourage anyone with information to come forward, offering options for private discussions or anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.


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Preparedness

Mom’s Bold Confrontation Sparks Gunfire at Popeyes Showdown

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In Jacksonville, Florida, a mother took matters into her own hands to confront an 18-year-old man who was allegedly engaging in inappropriate text exchanges with her 13-year-old daughter. The confrontation, which took place at a local Popeyes restaurant, escalated dramatically and ended with the suspect being shot.

According to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Chief of Investigations Alan Parker, the suspect, Cerry Rodriques Banks, had been involved in “an inappropriate text relationship with a 13-year-old female.” Upon discovering these communications, the girl’s mother decided to intervene directly. She assumed her daughter’s identity by using her phone to communicate with Banks, setting up a meeting with him at the restaurant early on a Sunday morning.

When Banks arrived, he was expecting to meet the young girl but was instead confronted by the mother, her daughter, and her 11-year-old son. During the encounter, Banks allegedly pulled out a gun and ominously warned the mother, “When you hear the shots tonight, you know what’s up.”

The mother quickly ushered her children into the safety of the Popeyes and alerted the authorities. Despite having the opportunity to leave the scene, Banks remained outside the restaurant. When police officers arrived, they instructed Banks to “turn around and show his hands,” but he ignored the commands and attempted to flee.

“As the officer reaches the corner of the business, he observes the suspect pull the pistol from his waistband,” Parker explained. The officer, who has seven years of experience, ordered Banks to drop the weapon. When Banks did not comply, the officer fired, hitting Banks multiple times.

“The suspect continues to flee and, near a neighboring business, drops the gun,” Parker added. Banks managed to escape temporarily but was later captured in a drainage tunnel with the help of a K-9 unit. He sustained injuries to his hand, torso, and possibly his leg, and was provided medical care before being transported to a hospital.

Authorities recovered the firearm, which had not been discharged during the incident. Banks now faces several charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, lewd and lascivious conduct, unlawful use of a communication device, and traveling to meet a minor for illicit purposes.

Jacksonville Sheriff T. K. Waters acknowledged the mother’s concern for her daughter but emphasized that such situations should be handled by law enforcement. “We’d absolutely love to handle every situation, but this is a mother who’s concerned about her daughter. So, I get it, I understand,” Waters stated. “But, I would say that in most cases, in situations like that, call us and let us come out and deal with the situation, so it doesn’t unfold like this.”


What should be the primary focus when addressing incidents involving firearms and personal safety?

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Concealed-Carry Motorcyclist Defends Against Hammer-Wielding Aggressor

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A concealed-carry motorcyclist was involved in a fatal incident in Maryland last week, which police have described as a road-rage confrontation. The motorcyclist, a 22-year-old with a valid Maryland concealed handgun carry permit, was traveling near Maryland Route 10 and Furnace Branch Road when he encountered an aggressive driver.

According to reports, the motorcyclist noticed another vehicle tailgating him and behaving erratically. The situation escalated when the driver, identified as 51-year-old Scott David Guhse, pulled alongside the motorcyclist, shouting at him. The two nearly collided during the encounter.

Anne Arundel County police spokesman Justin Mulcahy explained, “At a certain point, he was sort of forced off the road, and then stopped. He ultimately had to lay down his bike.” The confrontation reached a critical point when both individuals stopped on East Furnace Branch Road at Margate Drive.

It was there that Guhse allegedly charged at the motorcyclist with a hammer. In response, the motorcyclist drew his handgun and fired, resulting in Guhse’s death at the scene, according to fire officials. The motorcyclist remained at the scene following the incident, cooperating with authorities.

“I heard a pop. I thought it sounded like gunfire,” Hyung Chang, owner of Against Our Odds Vape Shop in Glen Burnie, recounted. “Ten to 15 minutes later, started having police and everything show up.”

Chang remarked on the frequency of such incidents in the area, noting, “It’s unfortunate,” and adding that he witnesses similar altercations at least once a month. “People have to learn to tone things down a little bit and not take things so personal,” he advised.


Do you believe individuals with a concealed carry permit should use their firearm in self-defense during road rage incidents?

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