Tulsa World: Video shows customer catching an armed robber at grocery store

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Video shows customer catching an armed robber at grocery store

The struggle continued outside the store until police arrived, even after Craig Stutzman was hit in the head and face with the gun.

By KELLY HINES and LEE LOGAN, World Staff Writers
Published: 8/8/2008 10:59 AM
Last Modified: 8/8/2008 5:52 PM

Video: Watch footage of Craig Stutzman stopping the armed robber.

He just needed some dog food from the grocery store. Instead, Craig Stutzman -- an American Airlines mechanic -- ended up fighting a man in a Batman mask who had tried to rob the Food Pyramid on 51st Street near Memorial Drive Thursday.

Tony Leroy Cleveland, 38, of Tulsa, was arrested on complaints of shooting with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, wearing a mask in commission of a felony and possessing a firearm, all after a felony conviction, jail records show.

According to an arrest report, Cleveland was wearing a Batman mask and a red bandanna and carrying a gun when he entered the Food Pyramid on 51st Street near Memorial Drive about 11:30 p.m. The robber gathered the store employees and customers to the front of the store and demanded money.

“It was a strange situation,” said Stutzman, 44. “It didn’t seem real. I thought it was a prank at first.”

When another customer tried to duck behind a counter, Cleveland fired at him, missing his head by inches, the report states.

His gun jammed, and Stutzman tackled Cleveland, police said. Store surveillance video shows Stutzman single-handedly fighting to keep a hold on him, to the point the robber's shirt is pulled off.

“It took

me a few seconds to register that we might have an opportunity here,” Stutzman said. “From there, it just happened. It started in the store and ended outside. Everything else was a tumble, a blur.”

The struggle continued outside the store until police arrived, even after Stutzman was hit in the head and face with the gun.

Stutzman said he didn’t do anything extraordinary: “You know, it just happened. There’s no real big thing about it.”

On the contrary, said Tulsa police Sgt. Dave Walker, who said without Stutzman’s help, Cleveland would not have been arrested.

Although it appeared at first that Stutzman had a broken jaw, it was only badly bruised. He had several other scrapes on his head and legs that he sustained in the fight.

Stutzman had already taken Friday off and was supposed to go to a family reuinion.

“I was supposed to fly out this morning,” he said, laughing. “I guess it shows no good deed goes unpunished.”

Detectives will look at previous robberies of Food Pyramids for similarities and possible additional charges against Cleveland, Walker said. Cleveland was booked into the Tulsa Jail about 4 a.m. Friday with bond set at $310,000.

Court documents show he served 10 years for Oklahoma County convictions of robbery with firearms and also has a Hughes County conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Register for Email Newsletters: TulsaWorld.com now offers 25 Email Newsletters that can be sent directly to your inbox. Pick from topics and writers from every section, as well as Breaking News Alerts. Already a registered user? Visit the My Account home page or create a new account. By KELLY HINES and LEE LOGAN, World Staff Writers

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	Report Comment The Good Doctor, (8/8/2008 11:11:11 AM) Batman, WHY?!
	Report Comment C.R. Delough, Tulsa (8/8/2008 11:17:14 AM) Cleveland was wearing a Batman mask - hit's hip to be square.
	Report Comment tfromtulsa, Tulsa (8/8/2008 11:19:45 AM) Holy Cow! This is a DUDE???? The Good Doctor - Look at this guys picture. That's why. I hope the customer has a speedy recovery. Without the assistance of the customer, I'll bet people would have been killed. What a hero!
	Report Comment Hijinx, (8/8/2008 11:23:08 AM) Wow, how about that customer! This guy might have saved a few lives. A hero indeed!
	Report Comment Okie from Owasso, (8/8/2008 11:26:30 AM) Way to go, Customer!! I bet he did save lives, and hopefully put this guy away for good this time!
	Report Comment oak, (8/8/2008 11:32:13 AM) Hope that food pyramid will pay his medical bills...
	Report Comment oak, (8/8/2008 11:32:37 AM) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
	Report Comment cynical1, Tulsa (8/8/2008 11:47:55 AM) I kinda wish a concealed carry advocate woulda saved us the tax dollars this clown's going to get on a "fair" trial....
	Report Comment Gr8tfulDheadNTulsa, (8/8/2008 11:48:28 AM) He must have just got done watching The Dark Knight. Props to the customer on holding this guy until the police got their.
	Report Comment Marguerite, Tulsa, (8/8/2008 11:56:34 AM) Boy, the crooks are getting bolder every day. What was everyone else in the store doing while the customer "continued to struggle with the robber until police arrived, even after being hit in the head and face with the gun"? Couldn't someone else have stepped in? This unnamed customer is a hero. Hopefully we'll learn about him later.
	Report Comment DH, Tulsa (8/8/2008 11:57:25 AM) Too bad the robber didn't get shot in the face during the incident. That would have been heartbreaking.
	Report Comment QLC, (8/8/2008 11:58:45 AM) Yesterday, Reasors had a security car outside, and a security guard inside. Has food become this precious? At least they are looking our for the customers. What a difference it would have made at the food pyramid if someone on the other side had a gun! I will certainly have mine!
	Report Comment reckless abandon, (8/8/2008 12:00:47 PM) tony at one time worked for albertsons at the north peoria store, i liked him and he was a good worker. our manager knew about his record but was later transfered. the new manager found out about his criminal past and fired him. this was about 15 months ago. not to excuse his behavior in any way but i wonder if things would have turned out differently had he been able to retain his job.
	Report Comment Fruits&Nuts, (8/8/2008 12:43:28 PM) Good point reckless, if we can't or won't give these people a chance to do the right thing, then we have to suffer the consequences when they decide they still need to take care of themselves.
	Report Comment Fruits&Nuts, (8/8/2008 12:54:42 PM) Well, if North Tulsa people wouldn't rob a grocery store out of business, there would be some. Just make it profitable for them to be there and they will come. I thought Jack Henderson was going to take care of that issue. I guess he isn't as powerful as he thought. And further, open one up Patriot!
	Report Comment anm1135, (8/8/2008 1:07:59 PM) Fruits & nuts, he had the choice to not commit a felony crime the first time. I'm all for people being given a chance to redeem themselves, but you mean to tell me in the whole Tulsa metro area he couldn't find ANY job and just had to commit robbery and attempted murder just to feed his family?
	Report Comment peelumba, (8/8/2008 1:16:41 PM) what a fine upstanding looking citizen
	Report Comment Bubba, Jenks (8/8/2008 1:40:52 PM) What's up with the employees and other shoppers? Bunch of dang cowards!
	Report Comment eddieo, (8/8/2008 1:57:42 PM) Wow... I thought that was Wanda the Ugly Woman off In Living Color! My bad.
	Report Comment Serenity, (8/8/2008 2:00:58 PM) I think there is not excuse for somebody to go and rob a Store and put in danger the lives of decent persons shopping. This Store have been robbed before. They need a Security Guard. The Bank of Oklahoma in that Store was robbed one time also. These robbers are getting bolder / Tulsa is becoming a v ery dangerous City.
	Report Comment anm1135, (8/8/2008 2:02:21 PM) Bubba I didn't think of that. Maybe the city could implement some sort of car pool program that could drive robbers around.
	Report Comment oak, (8/8/2008 2:16:43 PM) Nice racist redneck statement's BUBBA and ANM1135.... dummies
	Report Comment Fred, (8/8/2008 2:31:52 PM) Cory, Felons don't vote.
	Report Comment SRV, (8/8/2008 2:33:22 PM) He looks like one of those singers that was lip syncing. Milli Vanilli? LOL
	Report Comment zanesmomma03+1, Tulsa (8/8/2008 2:34:48 PM) Patriot, Don't you know that white people don't say "manned up"? Come on now, if you are gonna be egotistical, racist and discriminatory, at least get it right.

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