Miami Police gave a hero award on Thursday to Harry Cossyphas, a high school senior who helped detain a suspected thief in Brickell in August.
Cossyphas was walking past a bank on his way to a grocery store when he heard a woman yelling “robber” in Spanish. He said he ran after the suspect, followed him into an alley and kept going after the man pepper sprayed him in the left eye. He chased the suspect to the Metromover station, where he tackled him and held him until officers arrived.
Officials nicknamed him the “Spider-Man of Brickell.” Cossyphas received the award for courage, compassion and responsible decision-making. He was one of 11 students honored by Miami Police and the Do The Right Thing Program for acts in the community.
The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Yagiz Dogan. As of late Thursday night, he remained in custody and faced a charge of third-degree grand theft.
Cossyphas said he acted on instinct and does not regret it, although many people have warned him that confronting suspects is dangerous.
