Dallas, Texas

From Dallas’ NBC5i.com of November 24, 2005

Grandmother Helps Nab Alleged Burglars

One man was killed and at least one other injured Wednesday night when their van crashed on a rural road in Ellis County. Police said the men, along with at least one other, were fleeing from an elderly woman who allegedly witnessed them burglarizing a neighbor's home.

Investigators said Nell Tonick, a 17-year veteran deputy of the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, was following the men in her vehicle and attempting to get the license place number of the van they were riding in, when the van blew a tire and crashed.

One man in the van died and at least one other was injured. A third man fled the scene.

Lt. Ron Roark of the Ennis Police Department said Toncik, 87, had received a call that the alleged burglars were stealing her neighbor's ATV. And that's when the woman, known simply as "Granny" jumped into action.

"She fired a warning shot or something just to get their attention to stop, and they didn't, and then she got in her car and chased them to my front yard," witness Carter Gaddis said.

"She wasn't running them off the road. She wasn't crowding them. She was attempting to get the license plate number so she could tell the 911 system," Roark said.

During the pursuit, the front left tire of the van blew out, causing the vehicle to roll over a number of times and smash into a tree, Roark said.

In a jail house interview, suspect Jose Martinez, 21, of Dallas, admitted the incident was a stupid mistake, and that he and the other two men were stealing the 4-wheeler for easy money.

Investigators said Tonick is not in trouble with the law and that she had every right to follow the van and try to get the license plate number.

"She's a spunky lady, yes she is. She handled herself very professionally and the police officers are very proud of her," Roark said.

"She's 84 years old, but let me tell you, she's a very able-bodied lady," Gaddis said.

Martinez remained in jail and the man who fled the scene was still on the run.