Hero Ohio Cop’s Decisive Action Stops Brinks Armored Car Robbery Hostage Situation [VIDEO]

Most of the time there’s never a cop around when you need one. But for one family in North Olmsted, Ohio, a heroic police officer with very big cajones rolled up in hot pursuit of a Brinks armored car robber. The would be thief, John Johnson, had just robbed the truck and, of course, the Brinks boys called for help.

Cops picked up the trail almost immediately and Johnson thought he was in a real-life Fast & Furious movie. He turned simply pulling over and surrendering into a deadly, multi-county demolition derby at speeds that reached triple digits. However, as a wise man once told me, you can outrun a cop, but you can’t outrun Motorola.

Fast forward to the money shot(s): Johnson’s ride developed flat tires (thanks to spike strips) and he bailed. Spotting a mom with children nearby, he thought he’d hit the hostage lottery. Spoiler alert: nope.

Johnson managed to get the mom and four of her kids inside her apartment.

That’s when a heroic Elyria cop clad in armor, a cape and massive testicular fortitude ran up at a full sprint, telling bystanders to scram. Hardly breaking his stride, he kicked the door open and lit Mr. Johnson up before he could say, “I’ve got a hostage.”

No, our hero cop didn’t wait for backup or a perfect plan. Instead he leapt into action by himself in order to save lives. He fired, rapidly, to end the threat decisively. Thanks to his quick, selfless action, the mom and kids are safe and Ohio taxpayers won’t have to worry about trial or incarceration costs.

Here’s the video:

 

Elyria Police Fatally Shoot Armed Robbery Suspect After Chase and Hostage Situation

John Johnson, 37, was taken down by an Elyria police officer after leading officers on a high-speed chase following an armed robbery outside an AT&T store involving a Brinks armored truck.… pic.twitter.com/J7B84ECgve

— The Facts Dude 🤙🏽 (@Thefactsdude) January 28, 2026

Elyria Police Chief James Welsh, in full proud-dad mode, describing what happened.

Here’s the story from the local outlet The Chronicle:

A Lorain man was shot and killed by an Elyria police officer after committing an armed robbery, leading police on a high-speed, two county chase and taking a mother hostage while her four children were in the home.

Elyria Police Chief James Welsh said Wednesday evening that the man, a 31-year-old whom he declined to identify, died in the hospital after being shot at an apartment complex in North Olmsted. No police officers or bystanders were injured during the incident.

Per Elyria department policy, the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, or BCI, is investigating the shooting.

The shooting came after police said the suspect abandoned his vehicle in North Olmsted and ran on foot into an apartment complex on Clareshire Drive.