A beer truck driver’s quick thinking and alertness led to the capture of a man on the run who had allegedly stabbed two people, one fatally.
Justen Bechamp, a driver for Petitpren Inc., was on the road when his dog-sitter called and informed him of the suspect’s vehicle description, which she received due to a lockdown initiated by a local school. When Bechamp spotted the vehicle minutes later, he immediately notified the authorities, leading to the suspect’s arrest by Warren police. Bechamp’s actions are being praised for helping to bring a dangerous criminal to justice.
“It was unreal, but I’m glad I was able to do my part and stop this person from doing more harm in our community,” Bechamp said in a release.
Mayor Kip Walby from St. Clair Shores personally reached out to Bechamp to express his gratitude for his heroic actions. Walby commended Bechamp’s swift thinking that ultimately led to the arrest of the perpetrator, resulting in a sense of relief for the community. Thompson also received praise from Walby for his collaboration with Bechamp in this commendable act.
“It was such a huge relief to hear this person was caught so he couldn’t hurt anyone else,” Walby said. “Being a beer distributor and being in restaurants and bars throughout the county, they have boots on the ground and can be the eyes and ears for the rest of us and try to assist police.”
“I wanted Jamey to know how much I appreciated the fact Justen took the initiative to make that potentially life-saving call. Without people like Justen serving as the eyes and ears of our community, I don’t want to think about what else could have happened.”
Bechamp’s employer commended him for his exceptional work and commitment to the community.
“We’re extremely proud of Justen for going above and beyond to serve his community while on the job at Petitpren Inc.,” said Jamey Thompson, Petitpren vice president and general manager. “His efforts helped the police apprehend the suspect quickly and prevent anyone else from being harmed. The incident is an example of Petitpren’s strong connections in the communities we proudly serve.”
At Petitpren, giving back to the communities they serve is at the heart of everything they do. These events only reinforced that commitment, in ways beyond imagination. With a team of 86 full-time and 79 part-time employees, backed by 175 efficient trucks, Petitpren is all set to make a difference.
“We’re great at delivering beer and serving our customers but we also pride ourselves on being good stewards in our communities,” Thompson said. “Of course, it’s not every day we’re stopping crime sprees.”
Burns, a 31-year-old man from Washington Township, has been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree premeditated murder and assault with intent to murder. He attacked Cheryl Parsley, a 60-year-old woman, and fatally stabbed her while she was putting air in her vehicle tire in the Belle Tire store parking lot on Gratiot Avenue. He then drove to the intersection of 12 Mile Road and Harper Avenue and stabbed Robert Baecke, who survived the attack.
After police arrested Burns, they found several weapons and a large amount of ammunition in his vehicle. He is currently being held on a $10 million bond and will appear in court on July 19 in front of Judge Kathy Tocco in 39th District Court in Roseville.
Source: Macomb Daily
