Mark Ross got a call at 3:00am over the weekend and received some devastating news: his 15-year old sister had been killed in a car accident. Obviously, Mark was devastated by the news and immediately set out to make the long drive from Indiana to Michigan to be with his mother.
As he described in a now viral Facebook post, he and his friend were ‘obviously speeding’ to get there. They got pulled over – which was especially bad news because both Mark and his friend had some legal trouble. A suspended license and an outstanding petty warrant meant the car was getting towed an Mark hauled off to jail.
When Wayne county refused to drive the distance to pick up Mark and send him to jail, the emotion overtook him.
“I explained to the officer that my sister had died and that I needed to get to my mother asap. I broke down crying and he saw the sincerity in my cry. He reaches over and began praying over me and my family.”
The officer, Sgt. David Robison of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, then decided to put his faith in action. He offered to drive Mark the remaining 100 miles to be with family.
Everybody knows how much I dislike cops. But I am truly grateful for this guy. He gave me hope.
Mark made no bones about his feelings towards police, saying “Everybody knows how much I dislike cops” in his Facebook post. “But I am truly grateful for this guy. He gave me hope.”
After driving the 100 miles to Michigan, Sgt. Robison didn’t part ways without a final touching moment.
“As I was getting out of the car, he just reached over and was like, ‘Mark? Can I pray for you?’ ‘Sure. Go ahead, I need it.’ And he said one of the most meaningful heartfelt prayers and it really touched me.”
Mark added that the display of humanity helped him see firsthand that “all cops are not bad cops” despite the animosity many, especially in minority communities, have towards police today.
“I really think I gained a brother and an angel at the same time.”
It’s amazing what the power of prayer coupled with real, genuine compassion can do. Beautiful.
Watch ABC7’s report below: