Good samaritans in Jacksonville, Florida, rescuing a girl from an abductor in a parking lot

More than a dozen Good Samaritans are being called heroes after rescuing two children, ages 2 and 6 months, and their mother, from a vehicle fleeing a Jacksonville, Florida, parking lot. Video footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) shows bystanders rushing forward and safely pulling the woman and a child, who were being dragged by the vehicle, and the other child from the SUV. Witnesses provided a detailed vehicle description that led to the driver’s arrest at a shopping center. “The situation could have ended in tragedy,” a JSO social media post stated. “Your JSO is grateful for the quick action and bravery of the Good Samaritans who stepped up.” The driver, Yanni Human, 26, faces multiple felony charges including child abuse and false imprisonment. 

The Iron County, Utah, Sheriff's Office recently honored Joseph Paul for helping find four girls who were being held captive in two locations. Paul started looking after an AMBER Alert was issued December 4, 2017. He spotted a man matching the suspect's description and called police. “Paul's quick thinking and intuition that night ultimately saved the lives of the four girls who had been kidnapped,” said Iron County Sheriff Lieutenant Del Schosser. The Sheriff's Office reported the girls were in extremely poor health and physical condition because they were being held without any source of heat or adequate clothing for the harsh elements.