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To Kind Heart! Son of fallen sheriff deputy outbid on dad's squad car but handed keys by stranger; food pours in for 81yo man
*update* July 1, 2015 ABC News: Homeless Man Who Returned Found Money Donates Reward A homeless man who made headline and defied stereotypes when he walked into a police station to return thousands in cash he had found continues to amaze. He has now donated the thousands of dollars raised for him by people who were moved by his initial act to a homeless shelter. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the homeless man was tracked down by Constable Alex Bérubé of the West Shore RCMP. “After hearing this story and seeing how this case touched so many people, I took a personal interest in finding this man, looking for him everywhere while on and off shift. It's not easy tracking down a person of no fixed address and no phone, but I kept trying because I needed to tell him about how the community had rallied together to help him,” said Bérubé. (to be continued)
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*update* July 1, 2015 Homeless Good Samaritan Turns in $2,000 Found on Street and Donates Reward When Bérubé tracked down the man to tell him about the reward money, "His response surprised me yet again, when instead of asking how to collect it, he asked me how to donate it to Our Place and other food service providers for people in need.” Our Place Society is, according to its web site "an inner-city community center serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable: working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted and the homeless. Individuals and businesses provide the majority of financial support for our programs and services. Our Place serves over 1,200 meals per day and provides hot showers, free clothing, counseling and outreach services, plus 45 transitional housing units."
The man does not want to be identified in the media, and is only described as in his 60s. The person who lost the initial money has been located and the money returned.
And while he doesn't want the money raised — the note pictured above details his wishes that it be donated — one thing he has requested is a job. Kelly is also spearheading that effort, and Victoria Buzz is looking for leads at the email address info@victoriabuzz.com. “Here is a man who is facing many challenges, yet despite that, he chose to do the right thing and see that another person wasn't left short thousands of dollars and facing the challenges that would bring them," said Kelly in the RCMP press release. "Now I'm going to do everything I can to help find him a job that fits his personal situation, and will hopefully move him closer to overcoming his current challenges.”
May 14, 2015 - son of fallen sheriff's deputy Sam Brownlee was outbid on his dads squad car, but was handed the keys by a stranger - a local farmer Steve Wells paid $60,000 for the $12,500-valued car (per Kelley Blue Book) who declined an interview with ABC affiliate KMGH, saying he did not want to take away Tanner’s moment as he got behind the wheel of his dad’s car.
Two Colorado brothers clinging to the memories of their father -- his squad car. And nearly five years after losing him, Tanner and Chase Brownlee had the chance to bid on it. Weld County Deputy Sam Brownlee was killed in the line of duty in 2010 after a police chase. The County Sheriff’s office auctioned off the his squad car on Wednesday to raise money for C.O.P.S, or Concerns of Police Survivors, an organization that helps survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
"It'd mean a lot to me and my brother. We've been through a lot," Tanner told ABC affiliate KMGH. "This is kind of the end of Sam's legacy here. It's the last tangible thing we have that he was connected to," said Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams.
Tanner had a plan going into the auction, having started a GoFundMe page for the car. But Tanner was quickly outbid and the car went to a local farmer, Steve Wells, for $60,000, even though the car’s Kelley Blue Book value was only $12,500.
Then, something unexpected happened --
the keys went right from Wells' hands, into Tanner's.
"I didn't know," Tanner told KMGH. "It means so much to me."
Steve Wells declined an interview with KMGH, saying he did not want to take away Tanner’s moment as he got behind the wheel of his dad’s car.
TANNER Brownlee was just 15...Almost five years later, his dad’s squad car was put to auction to raise funds to emotional support to the families of officers killed in the line of duty. “He (Sheriff’s Office deputy Sam Brownlee) put time and work into it. He drove it every day, and so to have something like that will be bigger than a lot of things I could have gotten,” Brownlee Tanner told Colarado’s 9News. “Realizing how much this car meant to him, I understand it now, and I want to keep that and hold onto it.”
When the auction started, Tanner entered first bid – $2,500. To Tanner’s disappointment, the bids were soon far beyond his limit, and as the bids reached $50,000, his limit had come and gone – seemingly just like his dad’s car. Eventually, the car was sold for a whopping $60,000 to Mr. Steve Wells, a local rancher. After being thanked by the auctioneer, Wells shook Tanner’s hand and subsequently went to claim his prize. Once Wells had the keys, he turned to the son of Brownlee. The stranger said, “Tanner, here’s your car,” and they hugged (kind heart brings tears to an auction)...
The refrigerator is empty. The 81-year-old Man is hungry. He called 911 for Food. Donations Pours in: he has so much food that he's called a food bank to share it with others." Two days after an elderly man dialed 911 for food because he was hungry and couldn't move, his kitchen cabinets are overflowing with donations. A 911 operator came to Clarence Blackmon's rescue this week after he called for help. The 81-year-old, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, had just returned home to an empty refrigerator after spending several months in the hospital, and he said he had no one else to turn to. The operator arrived with a box of groceries, and she made him a few ham sandwiches.
Several news outlets, including ABC News, wrote about the good deed, and food donations are pouring in, Blackmon said. "They keep bringing it in by the armloads," he told ABC News. "My cupboards are full. I've never had such prosperity." He has so much food, that he's called a food bank to share it with others. "Simply, these are wonderful gifts," he said. "If I tried to consume all that's in my kitchen right now, what's in my cupboards, it would take me over a year!" 911 operator Marilyn Hinson told ABC affiliate WTVD that she wanted to help Blackmon because she understood his predicament. "He was hungry," Hinson said. "I've been hungry. A lot of people can't say that, but I can, and I can't stand for anyone to be hungry."
May 8, 2015 -- heroic witness stepped in to help officer being assaulted by burglary suspect
Oklahoma City – things were looking grim for Rookie OKC Police Officer Adam Eller. After responding to a burglary report on the north-west side of Oklahoma City. As Officer Eller attempted to place the burglar under arrest a struggle ensued. During the fight, Williams took control of Eller’s baton and then struck him over the head: Eller was assaulted by one of the burglary suspects, and severely beaten with his own baton. While Eller was being assaulted, a heroic witness stepped with his weapon drawn, telling the burglar that he would fire on him if he did not stop assaulting officer Eller. The witness has yet to be identified.
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Salute to Kind and Brave Heart, to good and brave deeds!
Photo courtesy KMGH / ABC, Supplied / news.com.au, and WTVD / ABC News