Fmr Viking helps thwart carjacking outside day care

EDINA, Minn. (WCCO) — A quick-thinking parent and a bully Samaritan thwarted disconnected would-be carjackers successful Edina.

“Attacking a genitor astatine prime up from preschool is 1 of the much susceptible we person successful our community,” Robert Blanton said.

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Blanton runs Kiddie Academy successful Edina with his wife, Erin. He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2012 to 2015.

Edina Police say, connected Wednesday astir 4 p.m., a pistillate was confronted by 2 men extracurricular Kiddie Academy. One of the men demanded her keys to which she complied. Police accidental the pistillate past grabbed her purse and ran toward the locked entranceway of the facility.

Blanton was wrong with his girl astatine the time. He could spot the pistillate struggling with the carjacker.

“I conscionable bolted retired the door,” Blanton said.

When Blanton got outside, the fishy ran and jumped into a conveyance wherever the different carjacker was waiting.

“I was trying to propulsion him retired and slam the doorway connected his leg,” Blanton said.

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From outdoor surveillance, you tin perceive Blanton yelling astatine the men to get retired of the vehicle. Blanton says they tried moving him implicit until helium had to fto go. The suspects drove away.

The fishy conveyance had been taken during a carjacking earlier successful the time successful Richfield. It was recovered abandoned aboriginal successful St. Louis Park. No weapons were progressive and nary 1 was wounded successful the incident.

Blanton said helium does not deliberation of himself arsenic a hero. He praised the pistillate for moving for help.

“Definitely not a hero,” helium said. “I deliberation the ma is simply a leader for warring backmost and lasting up for herself and allowing clip to travel and assistance her.”

Police are inactive searching for the radical responsible. If you person immoderate accusation telephone Edina Police. They punctual residents to beryllium alert of their surroundings and springiness up your belongings if threatened to bash so.

The suspects got distant successful a Chevy Traverse with Minnesota licence plates speechmaking NLV852. If you person immoderate information, delight telephone 911.

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Kate Raddatz