When you realize that someone else is in trouble, you can either interfere, get help, or ignore it. Some people would like to think that they will do the first one, but this is not always true. Moments like this trigger our flight or fight mode, after all. Most people would have fled, but not these teenagers!
Just Another Day
Arnaud Nimenya, Starlyn Rives-Perez, Carsyn Wright, and James Hielema were just hanging out at the skate park like any other night. The four boys got together in the underground parking garage for a night full of skating fun. When it started to get late, the Canadian teenagers decided it was time to pack up.
Just Another Day
Something Strange
Things changed when they saw a girl and two older men approaching the parking garage. They took note of how disorderly and upset she seemed. Moreover, why were the men behaving so forcefully with her?
Something Strange
Noticed
In the beginning, she was walking in front of the men. However, they decided to switch things up when they realized that there were others in the area. While not illegal, something about it set off alarm bells.
Noticed
Stop To Check
They had been ready to leave when they noticed the group that made them halt all of a sudden. But what exactly did they see that made them sop in their tracks? Read on to find out…
Stop To Check
She Was Yelling
One of the four teens said, “She was screaming and yelling.” Carsyn Wright added, “She just wanted to be out of there.” The skaters began to get suspicious after seeing her react in such a way. What was up?
She Was Yelling
They Were Intimidated
“The guy was dressed in very nice clothes… and the girl was all dirty, she was crying, her nose was bleeding,” said Wright. The boys began to pay more attention to the three and asked for an explanation.
They Were Intimidated
His Explanation
While they were four to two, they still felt intimated by the older men as they did this. After all, they did not know how strong they were. The bigger man answered their question, claiming to be her father.
His Explanation
Had To Trust Them
After hearing this, they backed off. They decided that maybe she was drunk or under the influence when they caught her. She did not ask for help, so they had no reason to look any deeper into this matter.
Had To Trust Them
Easier Route
It was already getting late, so they agreed to go home. They got their skateboards before they left the garage. For the boys, the easiest route was to simply trust the two men. There was no reason not to.
Easier Route
Nighttime In Calgary
Despite this, they could not help but feel that there was something wrong here. While Calgary is generally a safe area, they knew that this did not mean much. The boys did not want to assume they were lied to, but their instincts told them otherwise.
Nighttime In Calgary
Feeling Uneasy
It was true that the girl appeared intoxicated. The more that these boys thought about it, the worse they started to feel about what they did. Maybe they were wrong to have backed down right away.
Feeling Uneasy
Acting Suspicious
The man had been confident, even arrogant, when he said she was his father. Why would he act like that? They then realized something that changed their minds. No father would have behaved that way!
Acting Suspicious
Shocking Behavior
“She was all scuffed up and dirty,” Carsyn explained. It did not look like everything was going well between the men and the girl. They saw him hoist her up over his shoulders like a bag of potatoes!
Shocking Behavior
They Had To Know
They saw that she was resisting! This was the moment the boys changed their minds. There was no way they could forgive themselves if they let this continue. They had to make sure that nothing was wrong.
They Had To Know
Something Sinister
They could tell that something was not right about this situation. They wondered if these three people know each other at all. What were they doing at the parking lot at that time of the night anyway?
Something Sinister
Running To Help
Something sinister was going on here, and they knew it. They returned to the garage and prayed that it was not too late for them. The boys ran as quickly as possible. Time was of the essence here!
Running To Help
Not There
They were not convinced until Wright said, “You don’t want to really think of the worst in somebody like that. You don’t want that situation to be real, so you just brush it off and hope for the best.”
Not There
On A Search
When they finally got to the outside of the parking lot, they did not find the group of three. It is a good thing that they knew exactly what to do anyway. They had to go in and look for them.
On A Search
Underbelly
The skaters had no clue that these men were not what they seemed. When they went into the Chinook Centre underground parking lot, they actually went to the dark underbelly of the city they call home.
Underbelly
No Going Back
It was too late for them to back out. The truth was that there was a growing problem in this area of the city. Beneath the mall, something sinister was actually going on even though no one knew about it.
No Going Back
The Underworld
Officer Arthur L. Doner had been digging into the rise in criminal activity in Southwest Calgary. He failed to find anything, however. The rival gangs and their dealings in the area felt like a mythical beast to him.
The Underworld
To The Rescue
He might be able to take down a member, but two more would arrive out of the blue. He had no idea that there would be four kids who wanted to bring down Hydra by themselves. What would happen next?
To The Rescue
No Security
The boys made their way in the darkness below the shopping mall. They were aware that the security guards would not be around that day. They made sure to check that before they went skating earlier.
No Security
They Knew The Secret Spot
The parking lot was the best place to go if one wanted to get into various mischiefs. Sadly, the men were also aware of this fact. The skaters knew that they would have to be quick and sneaky here.
They Knew The Secret Spot
Looking For Something
You only need the CCTV footage to see that the men went up and down the parking lot. It was clear that they were looking for something in particular. The girl had been with them while they looked around.
Looking For Something
Stairwell Entrance
Finally, they found what they had been looking for all this time. They pulled open the door to a stairwell and brought the girl inside. They then shut the door after doing this. What was going on?
Stairwell Entrance
The Empty Stairwell
The boys crept into the space as quietly as possible. The parking lot felt emptier than usual that very moment. Their gut told them to check behind the cars parked down there, but their efforts were futile.
The Empty Stairwell
Getting Real
After several minutes, the skaters finally found the stairwell that the two men went through. They hoped to find the girl safe down there. By that point, their mission was finally getting a bit too real!
Getting Real
What They Found
Arnaud kept still as he put his hand on the door handle. He communicated that they must be ready no matter what they found inside. He opened the door, but what they saw had them reeling.
What They Found
Finding Them
The boys did not expect it whatsoever. They combed through the darkness of the parking lot and looked for areas between the cars. There were lots of hiding places, so the men could have hidden anywhere.
Finding Them
They Were Speechless
They only saw the men when they looked at the stairwell. There was nothing in the world that could have prepared them for what they saw down there. It rendered all four of them completely speech.
They Were Speechless
Shocking
They saw the silhouette of the two men down there. Their instincts told them to simply flee the scene, but they wanted to make sure the girl was alright. They were not just going to abandon her there!
Shocking
Frozen
They were all shocked and disgusted by what the men were doing to her. Arnaud Nimenya, one of the boys, admitted that he “didn’t know what to do.” They snapped out of the shock and helped her out.
Frozen
Time To Leave
As you can imagine, the two men felt angry at them. Despite this, the boys did not have any idea who they had been dealing with. The taller man tried to flee, and then the other one simply followed him.
Time To Leave
Terrified
Nimenya said, “He pushed me aggressively out of the way, kinda like just gives me the smile…like, ‘I can do this. You can’t do anything about it.” Of course, they were not going to let the men off the hook.
Terrified
Going After Them
Even though they were scared, it would be wrong to simply leave things as they were. They needed to fight. The men tried to walk out of the staircase, but three of the boys were following them. One of them stayed behind to look after the girl.
Going After Them
Chasing Criminals
They tried to outrun the three boys but failed to do so. There was no way that they were letting the cruel men get away with this. The boys chased after the two as they went out of the parking lot.
Chasing Criminals
Ready
Officer Arthur Doner was actually ready. He got a tip-off that the man he was chasing had been in the Chinook Centre with a pal. He headed to Southwestern Calgary and waited by the shopping mall.
Ready
Last Ditch Effort
He dialed for backup, although it turned out that this was not necessary. The man himself almost ran into his cruiser! The boys were hot on their heels. All of a sudden, the two men stopped and faced them.
Last Ditch Effort
Police Were Waiting
The larger man began to fight them off by ripping off a skateboard from their grasp. Using this, he started to bludgeon the boys so that they would stay away from them. He was clearly feeling desperate.
Police Were Waiting
The Authorities
He did not expect that there was a policeman near the scene. Officer Doner had been lying in wait the entire time. Before he could hurt the teens, the officer stepped in. He wrestled the man to the asphalt!
The Authorities
Heading Home
Was it true? Did he finally apprehend the man he had been chasing all this time? By the time backup arrived, the second man managed to escape. When the teens saw the police, they started to run.
Heading Home
Gang Leader
They returned to the parking lot as quickly as they could. They saw their other friend comforting the girl. She just went through something traumatic, after all. Apparently, the man was actually a gang leader.
Gang Leader
Afraid
After they made sure that she was safe, they decided to call it a day. However, that was not the end of the whole story. The boys began to get calls after this incident! The ordeal was not over for them.
Afraid
Ongoing Calls
They kept getting these phone calls, but they all felt too scared to answer the phone. Was it the other guy? How did they get their numbers? The calls kept coming. Soon, it would be time to face the music.
Ongoing Calls
Scared At First
Chief Const. Roger Chaffin had been trying to get in touch with them to express his gratitude. Not once did the boys think it was the police! They thought that it was the accomplice ringing them up.
Scared At First
Picking Up
The boys eventually picked up the calls. You can just imagine how surprised they were to hear that it was the authorities! Even though they felt very relieved, the teens still felt a little fearful.
Picking Up
Surprising News
Nimenya said that he was surprised to hear that they were going to be honored: “We always thought we were going to be in trouble because we fought with him. When they called us, we didn’t wanna answer.”
Surprising News
Looking For Him
It made sense when they were told the man that they helped take down was an important figure in a local gang in the area. The FOB gang was notorious for their dark dealings in Calgary.
Looking For Him
Finally Caught
We do not even want to think about what fate had in store for the poor girl if they did not intervene. Before the incident, the Calgary police had been trying to catch that perp to no avail!
Finally Caught
Spilling The Details
They arrested the man and began to interrogate him. He gave them valuable information about the other gang members. He had been ready to spill everything he had on them. Officer Doner was in luck!
Spilling The Details
They Did The Right Thing
At long last, he could finally figure out how to deal with the gangs in Calgary. It would have been impossible if the boys did not act in the way that they did. He could now help keep the area safe again.
They Did The Right Thing
Receiving Recognition
The boys were asked to go to the Chief’s Award Gala. They were recognized by Chief Constable Roger Chaffin for their bravery and services to Calgary. According to them, it was only the right thing to do.
Receiving Recognition
Calgary Chief’s Award Gala
The Chief’s Awards Gala is a yearly event hosted by the Calgary Police Service. It was made to honor people who did exemplary acts of commitment and courage for the community and everyone living in it.
Calgary Chief’s Award Gala
Safe Place
Here was what Police Chief Roger Chaffin had to say about it: “Calgary is a safe place to live but it doesn’t happen by itself, it’s safe because of the people that live here and the nature of wanting to help and wanting to look out for each other and that’s really a nice comment for such a big city.”
Safe Place
Courage
Do you honestly think that you would have done the same things that the boys did? Many people would have walked away with no second thought. No matter what they say, the boys had behaved bravely.
Courage
A Great Job
It is already hard enough to stand up to a single person, so it is clearly harder to that to two people. If it were not for the skaters, the girl might be in an even worse situation.
A Great Job
Calgary Police Chief
During the event, Roger Chaffin kicked it off with a speech. He thank Calgarians who went above and beyond: “Nobody gets their day started thinking this is going to happen to them, that they’re going to be involved in one of these things.”
Calgary Police Chief
Not Just
The boys did an incredible thing that day, but there were other people involved in the rescue. They were recognized as well, of course. The Award of Exceptional Recognition also went to Juan Dolph, Erin O’Conner, John Eddy, and Jasmine Simpson.
Not Just
More Awards
There is more! Apart from the award that went to them, they handed out two more awards to other amazing citizens: Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour and Award of Exceptional Recognition for Live Saving. Paul Butler and Lee Copeland were recipients of the latter.
More Awards
Jasmine Simpson and Juan Dolph
Let us hear about the stories the other winners have! Jasmine and Juan stepped in when they saw a man physically and verbally abuse his ex-wife in a parking lot. He grabbed her by the throat and pinned her in the car as the kids screamed from the backseat! Juan and Jasmine stopped him and called the police. Not only that, but they also stayed with her until the proper authorities got there.
Jasmine Simpson And Juan Dolph
John Eddy
John Eddy is yet another modern-day hero. He witnessed a car moving rather unusually. It did not move when the lights turned green but started moving across the intersection before it crashed into the curb. John checked up on the driver, who apparently suffered a heart attack. He gave CPR and saved a life.
John Eddy
Erin O’Connor
Erin O’Connor was recognized for her bravery as well. She saw a fight in the parking lot. The attacker wounded another man, so she chased him away, helped the injured man, and called an ambulance.
Erin O’Connor
Paris Hazelwanter
Paris Hazelwanter was another recipient of the award. She saw a drive-by shooting and immediately checked in on the woman in the car. She dodged more bullets and asked bystanders for help. They worked together to bring the victim out of the car. Paris kept her safe until emergency services arrived.
Paris Hazelwanter
Daxton Novak and Derek Wideman
There was some commotion in the apartment above Derek and Daxton’s. There was a woman dangling from her balcony as she suffered drug-induced psychosis. She climbed over the rails to evade the police. The two men encouraged her to climb into their place instead. They grabbed her legs to guide her there! When the police came in, she tried to head for the balcony once more, but they managed to stop her.
Daxton Novak And Derek Wideman
Jessica Johnson
Jessica Johnson also saved another life. She even risked her own to do so! She had been on a bike ride when she witnessed a man climb on the far side of the bridge railing. She spoke to him, convinced him not to jump, and stayed with him until the arrival of the emergency crews.
Jessica Johnson
Sonia Hafeez Yousaf
Sonia was only 10 years old when she got the award! She helped her mother, who was assaulted by a former business associate of hers. Sonia managed to escape and ask the neighbor for help. They called the police, who managed to arrest the assailant. It is nice to hear that her mother eventually got better.
Sonia Hafeez Yousaf
Shirley Thiessen
Shirley Thiessen got the ward for working on the death notification course. She taught the police officers how to give people terrible news. In 2012, she and her husband learned that their child Jordan died in a workplace accident. Apparently, the police delivered the news so poorly that it made things worse for them. Shirley decided to do something about it and educate everyone about this important task.
Shirley Thiessen
Constable Patty Desormeau
Constable Patty Desormeau also received the award. A CPS Diversity Resources Unit member, she worked on the vulnerable persons self-registry of the Calgary Police. She got inspired to do this when she heard that Ontario had an autism registry. It was a great idea that protected the vulnerable!
Constable Patty Desormeau
Nestor Aravena Bonastre
Nestor was recognized during the Chief’s Awards Gala too. He saw a teenager sitting on the edge of the bridge with her legs dangling out precariously. The girl said she was planning to end her life, but he talked her out of it. The police explained, “As he got closer, she went over the ledge and hung by her hands. Nestor made a split-second decision and grabbed hold of her arms to stop her falling”. They added, “Nestor hung there, leaning over the bridge, holding the girl for more than three minutes in 35-degree temperatures before police arrived. An officer arrived, leaned over the edge and grabbed hold of the girl’s leg to pull both her and Nestor back to a safe location.”
Nestor Aravena Bonastre