Robert Sakosky is a guy you definitely want around when things get dicey.
Camera footage recently released by police in Pennsylvania shows exactly what happened during a harrowing ordeal that unfolded Friday, when a hoodie wearing thug rolled up on a bank teller and pulled a gun.
The man, 38-year-old John Ryall, pointed the gun at the cashier and demanded cash. He couldn’t have possibly seen what was about to happen next. Sakosky is a relatively unassuming looking guy, judging by the way he sauntered into the bank in the first place. Ryall likely didn’t see him as much of a threat, but clearly he should have.
In an instant, Sakosky morphed from easy going grandpa to a human torpedo and launched himself towards the threat, first grabbing then body slamming Ryall to the ground, neutralizing the threat in a way that would make Steven Seagal jealous.
The two young women who can be seen in the clip saw their opportunity to get out of there, and immediately ran for cover. During the wrestling, Sakosky clearly has the upper hand throughout, and calmly dislodges the weapon from his 20-year-younger foe and pushes it across the room.
Game. Set. Match.
You can see the incident here:
More from local news station WNEP:
Investigators said a customer saw what was going on and slammed the would-be robber into a wall, then got the gun and money away from him and ripped off the robber’s ski mask.
According to court paperwork, the suspect ran away from the bank. A Scott Township police officer chased him through a neighborhood and tackled him.
Scott Township’s police chief then handcuffed and arrested the accused robber, who is now behind bars.
Police said Ryall lived in Luzerne borough in Luzerne County before he was homeless.
According to police, Ryall said he tried to rob the bank because he “needed money for his kid.”
Ryall faces charges of robbery, six counts of reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, aggravated assault, three counts of simple assault, possession of an instrument of a crime, and theft.
If that’s truly the man’s situation, it’s certainly a sad one. No matter how tough it is, however, it’s still no justification for carrying out a crime that could have deadly consequences. Thank God for the courage of Mr. Sakosky and his willingness to put his life on the line, without hesitation, to help others.