Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
MANSFIELD, Texas — Two Mansfield fire department staff members won’t call themselves heroes, but Chief Barry Bondurant will.
Assistant Chief Mike Ross and firefighter Daniel Gaskey recently tried to stop two crimes while off duty.
“It exemplifies what public safety is in the fire service, it’s not just answering a 911 call for a fire or someone having a heart attack,” Bondurant said. “These guys and any firemen that I know of, any of our guys would have jumped in and done the same thing.”
Ross was leaving Mansfield Town Center West at FM 157 and U.S. 287 in late May, when a man walked past his vehicle toward a woman loading her trunk. He saw the man grab her purse and run toward a get-away vehicle. As the woman chased the purse snatcher, Ross got out of his vehicle and tried to separate the two so the woman would not get hurt or dragged with the car as it fled.
Ross said getting out of his vehicle was pure instinct.
“All I saw was there was someone that needed help,” he said.
Ross tried to stop the driver and passenger and was able to land a few punches before the vehicle drove away.
He helped give identifying information to the police, which police spokesman Thad Penkala said helped identify the suspects. Penkala added the department expects to make an arrest in the near future.
Ross, a six-year veteran with Mansfield and an 18-year career in fire safety, said what he did was dangerous, but he would do it again.
“I wanted to go help, as a public servant that’s one of the things that drew me into the profession,” he said.
Penkala said Ross is a true public servant, but said people should understand the risks involved and consider taking photos, getting information and contacting the police.
“We tell people to be a good witness,” Penkala said.
Before his 7 a.m. shifts, firefighter Gaskey normally makes a stop at the Oasis Food Mart in Midlothian for water or an energy drink, but a late June trip turned out to be more than a quick stop for the firefighter.
Gaskey recalls he was talking to the store clerk when he felt someone push him aside. A man in a black mask faced the clerk with a fixed-blade knife in hand and demanded money.
“I assessed it real quick and thought this isn’t good, this isn’t right, I’ve got to fix this,” Gaskey said.
From behind, he put one arm across the man’s chest and with the other he grabbed the knife hand and threw Bearden to the floor. Gaskey, who served in the Marines, held the man down until police arrived. Dylan Bearden of Midlothian was arrested for aggravated robbery.
Gaskey said he wanted to make sure his 5-year-old son understood why he stepped in when he heard the story.
“You got to protect people who can’t protect themselves,” he said.
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