Soup theft sparks bloody brawl in Burien
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BURIEN, Wash. -- A case of petty shoplifting in Burien turned into an all-out brawl Wednesday night when a good Samaritan and his 10-year-old son chased down and tried to apprehend the suspected thief.
Police say a man walked into a Burien Walgreens at about 7 p.m. and tried to steal a can of soup. A clerk at the store saw the theft and confronted the man, which is when things got serious.
"He was confronted by a clerk. When she confronted him he shoved her, which makes it a robbery," said Sgt. Patrick McCerdy of the King County sheriff's office.
The alleged thief, who police say is a known drug user, took off on foot. A good Samaritan who was riding bikes with his 10-year-old son saw the incident and immediately gave chase.
Father and son soon caught up with the suspected shoplifter and the two adults began brawling in the middle of the street while 10-year-old Cooper watched the whole thing.
Seeking refuge, the suspected thief took off, hopped a nearby fence and interrupted a barbeque.
"He was bloody and everything, talking about how he just beat somebody up and he needed a place to hide," said witness Boxer Saso.
But it was too late for that.
"The police were on that side of the fence and hit him with the gun and told him to get down or they were gonna shoot. So it ended pretty quickly, which is a good thing," Saso said.
Little Cooper rode his bike home and told his mom what happened. They went back and found the dad, but Cooper knew something was wrong.
"He kept on asking the same question," Cooper said. "He didn't know what day it was and I believe he didn't know what two-times-two was."
That man was taken to Highland Hospital, were he was treated for severe head and neck injuries.
Police say a man walked into a Burien Walgreens at about 7 p.m. and tried to steal a can of soup. A clerk at the store saw the theft and confronted the man, which is when things got serious.
"He was confronted by a clerk. When she confronted him he shoved her, which makes it a robbery," said Sgt. Patrick McCerdy of the King County sheriff's office.
The alleged thief, who police say is a known drug user, took off on foot. A good Samaritan who was riding bikes with his 10-year-old son saw the incident and immediately gave chase.
Father and son soon caught up with the suspected shoplifter and the two adults began brawling in the middle of the street while 10-year-old Cooper watched the whole thing.
Seeking refuge, the suspected thief took off, hopped a nearby fence and interrupted a barbeque.
"He was bloody and everything, talking about how he just beat somebody up and he needed a place to hide," said witness Boxer Saso.
But it was too late for that.
"The police were on that side of the fence and hit him with the gun and told him to get down or they were gonna shoot. So it ended pretty quickly, which is a good thing," Saso said.
Little Cooper rode his bike home and told his mom what happened. They went back and found the dad, but Cooper knew something was wrong.
"He kept on asking the same question," Cooper said. "He didn't know what day it was and I believe he didn't know what two-times-two was."
That man was taken to Highland Hospital, were he was treated for severe head and neck injuries.
Sheesh, poor kid...I think seeing your Dad beat-up and dazed could be a pretty traumatic experience. No doubt the guy's judgement was poor but at the same time, I don't think the thought that this starved, drug-abuser might be pretty experienced in a fist fight ever crossed his mind before he decided to try and stop the criminal. I sincerely hope he fully recovers.
I wouldn't chase anybody if I had my kids with me and I certainly wouldn't chase a guy over a silly can of soup. I'd chase somebody if they had one of my kids, other than that it's not worth it - you can get your credit cards and keys back but not your life nor the life of one of your loved ones - NOT WORTH IT!!!
If I were this boy's mother I would have some harsh words for the hero-complex dad. What an idiot. This could have had a tragic ending - suppose the druggie knocked out the dad and turned on the boy in a hallucinogenic rage? What a fool.Â
I get to say it twice in one week. No soup for YOU!
MMMMMMMMMM good drugs.
All this over a can of soup. Wow. Just wow.
I agree with most of the post here that he(dad) should of let it go. However I do hope he is O.K.
What an idiot, he put his son at risk trying to be some 79 cent hero. Stupid stupid stupid.
Always wanted to see the campbell soup kids duke it out.
sad that someone would need to steal soup...
 @SwampThing Need or just want - either way, what a dumb thing to trade your freedom for. Also, here's a prime example of why you don't take the law into your own hands- it is an equally worthless proposition to incur severe head and neck injuries and put your 10 yr old in harm's way over a can of soup.
 @two loons  @SwampThing When you're hungry, you're hungry. Maybe the person was like me - when i'm hungry my brain seriously seems to break and I get really angry at the whole world and twitchy and stuttering.  I've never stolen anything but i've almost walked out of a convenience store with food i didn't pay for (caught myself).Â
 @Elaine2 Thanks, I already know I have it :) Appreciate the thought though.
@quidproquo - you might have a blood sugar problem. I used to get that way and found out I had hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which is the opposite of diabetes. You should get that checked out, it can cause brain damage if not resolved. I'm serious,no joke.
Just goes to show there hasnt been much "Progresso" made in Burien. Thanks folks, ill be here all week!
Father of the year? What if the guy had a weapon?
Gonna go out on a limb and say the "Samaritan" was probably chased "Soup-Masta-Minestrone" cuz he saw him shove/assault a woman, not cuz Soup wuz trying to get his soup on. Â sayin?
When you have 10 year-old child with you, it's probably a bad idea chasing someone over a can of soup.
No soup for you!
"He was bloody and everything, talking about how he just beat somebody up and he needed a place to hide," said witness Boxer Saso.
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#1 Worst Excuse For TrespassingÂ
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#1 Best Name of Crime Witness
Chasing down people putting lives at risk over a can of soup! Are these people really that stupid.
I can see now the impetus for White Center wanting to annex with Burien.
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Note to KOMO: This is not a case of a Good Samaritan. It is the case of a father with extremely POOR judgement to get in close physical contact with a deranged Souplifter thereby putting his son in danger.Â
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You can quit taking your "Ageless Male"  testosterone supplements now, sir...
@Sid Vishess - I LOVED that comment about the testosterone at the end. You are a funny dude!
 @Sid Vishess I absolutely, totally agree with you. That was stupid of the man with a 10 yr. old boy with him to do something like that. STUPID! I do hope the man ends up OK, but for a can of soup? Not even worth it.
 @Sid Vishess Yes Sid I believe its time to charge a certain father with child endangerment even though his intention . may have started out as good,but they did not end well ( top ramien is worth its wait in gold, in China maybe.) but not worth more than a child's safety.          Â
 @Cindertang  @Sid Vishess Top Ramen is worth it's weight in Top Ramen to college students and those trying to stretch a paycheck everywhere. I did learn that a tablespoon of peanut butter and a dash of siracha sauce turn ordinairy Top Ramen into a somewhat Thai inspired bowl of goodness.
 @two loons  @Cindertang  @Sid Vishess Sadly those of us with an MSG allergy (there are alot of us) can't touch any part of ramen. The noodles contain msg and the spice packet.