Move over, Batman, there’s a new hero in town, and he delivers pizzas for Cocco’s Pizza! Tyler Morell, a delivery driver from Aston, Delaware County, proved that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes they come with a side of garlic knots.
In a plot twist that could only happen in real life, a pizza delivery driver in Aston, Delaware County became an unlikely hero during a high-speed police chase on Sunday.
Tyler Morell, a delivery driver for Cocco’s Pizza, found himself in the middle of a wild pursuit while out on a routine pizza delivery. Police were chasing a stolen Kia from Upper Darby when it crashed along Preston Street in Middletown Township. The 17-year-old suspect, who was driving the stolen car, attempted to flee the scene on foot.
That’s when Morell sprang into action with a move straight out of an action movie. “I started walking towards the road, but I couldn’t do anything with my hands because I’m holding the pizza, so I just stuck my leg out,” Morell recalled.
Using his quick thinking and his outstretched leg, Morell tripped the suspect, causing him to tumble to the ground, where police were able to quickly apprehend him.
“He gave us the help we needed, by tripping him it gave us the time to catch up with the gentleman,” said Brookhaven Chief of Police Michael Vice, praising Morell’s heroic act.
Morell’s unexpected heroics have earned him widespread attention, with media outlets from around the country picking up the story. “I had a lady call this morning from Arkansas. She just said, ‘You know that was a crazy thing that he did. When we’re in town we’re going to stop by.’ People are calling requesting him to deliver,” said Steve Schmucker, the general manager of Cocco’s Pizza.
Even the pizza itself was delivered safely, earning Morell a perfect score from the satisfied customer who ordered it. “10 out of 10 delivery,” said Danielle Yeager.
In addition to the stolen vehicle driver, police also arrested 19-year-old Jhonael Gutierrez-Tejada, who was allegedly the passenger in the stolen car. Gutierrez-Tejada is facing charges of receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, and other charges, and is currently behind bars on $50,000 bail.
As for Morell, he remains modest about his heroics, simply stating, “I am so sick of seeing crime go on, especially half a mile down the road. So if they needed a hand or a foot, I was there.”
In a world where crime-fighting can come from unexpected places, Tyler Morell has proven that even a pizza delivery driver can be a true hero.