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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

Lawnmower Escape Fails: Bodycam Captures Bizarre Police Pursuit

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Recently released bodycam footage reveals a peculiar incident involving a Michigan man who attempted to evade law enforcement on a riding lawn mower. The footage captures the unusual chase and subsequent events that unfolded when the suspect, James Mitchell Kerr, was approached by authorities.

On September 19, officers were dispatched to a residence in Leoni Township with the intention of arresting Kerr, who had multiple outstanding warrants. Upon arriving, the deputy found the 41-year-old suspect operating a riding lawn mower. Despite being ordered to dismount, Kerr allegedly refused to comply.

In a surprising turn, Kerr reportedly accelerated the mower toward the deputy before attempting to flee. The chase, while unconventional, saw the mower eventually come to a halt in a ditch. Even then, Kerr allegedly ignored commands to surrender.

The situation escalated further when Kerr returned to his mower, retrieved a concealed handgun, and aimed it at the deputy. In response, the officer deployed a stun gun, successfully striking Kerr. This action inadvertently caused Kerr to discharge his weapon, resulting in a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand.

Kerr was subsequently treated for his injury at a local hospital and later released. Fortunately, the deputy emerged from the incident unharmed.

“This incident underscores how rapidly a seemingly routine encounter can escalate and the potential dangers deputies face daily,” remarked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. “Thankfully, the deputy was unharmed, and the suspect did not sustain serious injuries.”

Following his medical clearance, Kerr was arrested and released on bail. The case prompted Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette to request an independent investigation by the Michigan State Police, alongside an internal review by the sheriff’s office. The internal investigation concluded that there were no policy violations during the incident.

In October, Kerr faced formal charges and was bound over for trial in circuit court. He remains in custody at the Jackson County Jail, awaiting further legal proceedings.


How should have police proceeded with the individual?

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Unprovoked NYC Stabbing Spree Sparks Safety Concerns

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A shocking series of stabbings unfolded in New York City, leading to the deaths of three individuals. The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Ramon Rivera, has a history of multiple arrests and is currently homeless. His arrest came after a cab driver, who witnessed one of the attacks, notified the authorities.

The victims were simply going about their daily routines when they were attacked without warning. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny stated, “Today, we have three innocent New Yorkers, just going about their lives, who were the victim of a terrible, terrible assault.”

The violent spree began at approximately 8:20 a.m. on 19th Street. A 36-year-old man was stabbed in the stomach while standing in front of a construction site. Despite being rushed to Bellevue Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.

Just two hours later, another attack occurred on 30th Street near the East River. This time, a 68-year-old man who was fishing was repeatedly stabbed. Unfortunately, he also did not survive, passing away at the same hospital.

The final victim, a 36-year-old woman, was attacked near the United Nations building on East 42nd Street and First Avenue. She was critically injured and taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she later died.

Kenny emphasized the seemingly random nature of these brutal acts, saying, “As of right now, these attacks seemed to be unprovoked. That he just walked up to them and began to attack them with the knives.”

The suspect was apprehended shortly after the third attack. A cab driver, who witnessed the incident, mistakenly thought he was observing a robbery and reported it to the police. Rivera was found with large kitchen knives and blood-stained clothing.

An officer involved in Rivera’s arrest described the scene: “I just heard a commotion. Stepped outside and heard what people were saying and reacted.”

Mayor Eric Adams highlighted systemic issues, describing the incidents as a “clear, clear example of the criminal justice system, mental health system that continues to fail New Yorkers.” The investigation is ongoing, with no additional suspects identified at this time.


How should incidents of random violence, like the recent New York City stabbing spree, influence public policy on personal safety and self-defense?

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Gunfire Strikes Plane at Dallas Airport: Security Concerns Rise

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A recent incident at Dallas Love Field has raised significant concerns about aviation security after a bullet struck a Southwest Airlines plane near the cockpit while it was taxiing for takeoff. The unexpected event forced an evacuation of the flight, and authorities are actively searching for the person responsible for the gunfire.

“The fact that it hit so very close to the cockpit seems too much of a coincidence,” noted an airport spokesperson.

Flight 2494, which was preparing for departure to Indianapolis, was hit around 8:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane returned to the gate where passengers disembarked, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The runway was temporarily closed as police conducted their investigation. An FBI airport liaison agent has been assigned to collaborate with police and federal partners to ensure a thorough investigation.

Shannon and Jamie Lee, who were on the flight with their children, shared their experience. They recalled the pilot announcing a “rattle outside of the plane” and the need to return to the gate for an inspection. Initially, they believed it was a routine mechanical issue.

Shannon Lee expressed surprise upon learning about the gunfire after landing in Indianapolis, saying, “We had no idea that something happened.”

The couple appreciated Southwest’s handling of the situation but felt passengers should have been informed about the shooting before boarding another flight. Jamie Lee remarked, “I was surprised that they had shut the runway, not really knowing if there were potentially other shots being fired.”

The Lees emphasized the importance of allowing passengers to decide on their safety, with Shannon Lee stating, “You have to give people a choice, whether they want to put their safety at risk a second time in one night.”

Southwest Airlines has since apologized to the Lees and offered a voucher for a future flight. The incident has prompted the Lees to reconsider their travel plans until more is known about the investigation and potential safety improvements.

Armen Kurdian, a retired Navy captain, expressed shock at the incident, saying, “Holy cow, somebody just shot a gun, and it hit a commercial aircraft!” He explained that investigators would focus on determining the bullet’s origin and whether the shot was intentional.

The proximity to the cockpit raises questions about whether it was a targeted attack, as Kurdian noted, “The odds of that happening, I think, got to be really, really high.”

Kurdian also highlighted the potential damage a bullet could cause to an aircraft, ranging from minor issues to more severe impacts on critical systems. Despite the backup systems in place, he acknowledged the security vulnerability this incident exposes.

“Did this put an idea into, say, a non-state or a state actor as, ‘Oh, maybe this is something we can do to disrupt air travel’?” Kurdian pondered.

He suggested that airports and agencies should consider enhanced security measures, such as random sweeps and physical barriers, to prevent similar incidents in the future.


How should incidents involving gunfire near airports be addressed to ensure public safety?

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