Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/19/3
Staff Report
Tyler Morrell made a lot of big stops as a standout goalie for Episcopal Academy and the Duke’s Lacrosse Club and then at Cabrini University.
But on Monday the 29-year-old made a kick save Sunday afternoon in Delaware County that may have been his best – and it came while delivering a large pizza without losing a drop of cheese or a slab of pepperoni.
Morrell, was credited for assisting in the arrest of a 17-year-old man who had allegedly stolen a car and was pursued by police in Brookhaven. Morrell, delivering for Cocco’s, was approaching the door to make his delivery when he saw the suspect get out of the car after a high-speed chase and start to run from police.
Morrell, who is 6-foot-8, moved back to the sidewalk and tripped the suspect, causing him to fly about 6 feet. Police then quickly apprehended the suspect.
The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral, leading Morrell to get live interviews with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, CNN (Morrell was proud that he wore a Kip Taviano sweatshirt during his interview), Good Morning America, The Today Show and One American News. Maybe the most impressive fact was that Morrell held the pizza in his hand the entire time – without losing even one slice.
“I turned back and saw the car hit the curb and hit the lawn,” said Morrell. “I thought, ‘This is bad.’ I saw the cop car so it began to make sense.
“He (the suspect) hit the lawn and then some power cables – I’m surprised he didn’t blow his car up – but he hit some driveways and almost hit my car on the other side of the road.”
When your job as a Pizza delivery man takes “ Delivery” to a whole new level.
Moment hero pizza delivery man Tyler Morrell, helps capture suspect fleeing cops by tripping him over without dropping his food… and ends up getting a job offer from the police department. Give… pic.twitter.com/MKQjrUgSY1— Landon (@Ivylgeexec) April 18, 2023
After the suspect left his car, police pursued on foot, but Morrell realized he could help.
“I didn’t want the cops to shoot him, but I didn’t want him to get away,” Morrell said. “I thought maybe if I put my foot out it would make him stumble. It looks like I kicked him, I didn’t mean to send him in the air. He actually bounced right up (off the gras), but the cops got him.’
“He looked right at me and said, ‘He hurt me!’ I said, ‘That’s right.”
Brookhaven Police Chief Michael Vice later thanked Morrell for assisting in the suspect’s apprehension.
Police identified the suspect as Jhonael Gutierrez-Tejada, of Darby, who was arraigned Monday.
While the suspect was caught, the pizza was never compromised.
Call it the perfect save – and clear.