Judge helps nab theft suspects

Judge Jason Pulliam, deputy bailiff apprehend would-be thieves

SAN ANTONIO – Judge Jason Pulliam said he even surprised himself when he and his bailiff, Deputy Charles Cook, caught a pair of robbers Thursday afternoon.

Pulliam, County Court No. 5 judge, and Cook were returning from lunch walking down Houston Street when they spotted two men running.

As the pair jumped into a car, Pulliam said he shouted for them to stop.

"I yelled, 'Stop!' and they didn't stop," Pulliam said Friday. "I heard the tires of the car spinning and squealing off."

He said he knew he had to do something.

"Me not thinking, I decided to run in front of the car and try to beat them to the light," he said.

The car stopped and Pulliam and Cook sprang into action.

Pulliam said, "Chuck pulled the passenger – who happened to be armed – out of the vehicle and I pulled the driver out of the car."

They detained the pair, who had allegedly taken an iPad and a cell phone from a tourist from Miami, until San Antonio police officers arrived.

"It was kind of crazy," Pulliam said. "I don't know if I would do something like that again if I had time to deliberate and reflect. But we did it and thank God it worked out well."

For a list of recent stories Paul Venema has done, click here.


About the Author

Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role.

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