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Morning-After Revelation: “I Could Have Died”
by Paul Bass | Jul 26, 2010 7:42 am
(12) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Wooster Square
When Michael Smart woke up Sunday morning, it dawned on him: “Oh my God. What was I thinking?”
The previous afternoon, Smart, a Wooster Square alderman, had chased an armed burglar from his house and through the neighborhood until the police caught up with him. Three times the burglar pointed a gun at Smart and threatened to shoot, Smart said.
Smart (pictured at a political event Sunday night) recalled how only the next morning did the gravity of the encounter fully hit him.
“I could have died,” he realized. “instantly. When you’re running like that, it didn’t faze me [at the time]. My whole thing was, ‘I’ve got to get this guy.”
Smart, who’s 42, said he returned to what he thought was an empty house, his home on Lyon Street, around 3:30 p.m. Saturday only to hear someone running around. He called the police to report a burglar.
“He [the burglar] came out on the deck. He saw me,” Smart said. “He ran back in the house, down to the first floor, and out.”
Smart who ran the 50- and 100-yard dash for Wilbur Cross’s track team back in the day, chased after him. At Jefferson and Lyon streets, the burglar, still running, pointed the gun and said, ‘’‘I’ll shoot you!’” Smart recalled. That happened again a few blocks later.
At Grand and Jefferson, the burglar stopped. “He turned around with the gun. He said, ‘I’ll kill you.’”
This time Smart backed off, ran in the other direction, where he saw a police car approaching. He jumped in the car and helped lead the officer inside to the suspect, who was then arrested. Smart said the arrestee is 23 years old.
Post a Comment
Comments
posted by: lookingcrow on July 26, 2010 8:36am
Good job Mike!
posted by: Bruce on July 26, 2010 8:50am
Glad you’re OK, Mike!
posted by: Sunday on July 26, 2010 9:31am
Good Job, but I would not advise everyone to do this unless you had a gun also.
posted by: Morris Cove Mom on July 26, 2010 9:59am
While the chase was dangerous, it was necessary. How many times has someone wished they could have caught the person responsible for a crime against them?
When my car was broken into last year, my first thought was that I wish I saw/caught who did it. I wanted to help by giving the police a description, something to go on. I wanted to know that I had done my best to help protect myself, my property.
More people need to be like Mr. Smart. Strong, fast, and willing to help the police help our communities.
posted by: Edward Francis on July 26, 2010 2:51pm
Everyone wants to know who was the 23 year old burglar who had the gun, committed the crime and then threatened the Alderman’s life in the chase….He must have had some type of I.D. on him! Could he have possibly been ....oh never mind….
posted by: Elaine on July 26, 2010 4:25pm
Michael, when I read what happened it took my breathe away for a moment. You could have been killed! As much as I admire what you did, the price you might have paid is too high. I am watching you grow as an elected official and would like to keep you around awhile. Please be careful.
posted by: Ex-NHPD on July 26, 2010 4:39pm
Chasing after a guy who says he has a gun and says he will shoot you—NOT SMART.
Chasing after a guy who points a gun at you and says he will shoot you—STUPID.
Everyone reads the reports in the newspapers about the 300+ shootings a year in the city. Many of the shootings are of robbery victims who were completely compliant, yet were shot anyway. Why would you try to stay within distance of a guy who shows a gun and promises to use it?
By the way, was a gun recovered, and if so, was it a real gun?
posted by: JMS on July 26, 2010 9:32pm
Cross Track in the house. Nice work Michael. Hindsight is always 20/20 but in the heat of the moment you do what you have to do. In this case it worked out and I am glad to hear you are OK.
JMS
(Cross Track ‘84-‘88)
PS. Running away from a track guy-POINTLESS
