Brooklyn, NY – Caught On Cam: Alleged Shoplifter Felled By Felder

Brooklyn, NY – It was an unusual incident involving a state senator, a news photographer and three sanitation workers yesterday in front of an Avenue J Associated supermarket in Midwood, ending with the arrest of an alleged shoplifter.

Samir Samedov caught the attention of the store’s manager who noted that the 39 year old resident of Bay 38th Street was acting suspiciously.

Police told VIN News that the manager of the store, located at 1413 Avenue J between East 14th and East 15th Streets, confronted Samedov outside the store.

Among those who gathered outside the store as events unfolded were State Senator Simcha Felder and photographer Shimon Gifter. Felder, whose office is just across the street from the supermarket, was getting into his car when he noticed something going on across Avenue J at approximately 12:20 PM. Thinking it was an altercation between the store manager and a shopper, Felder crossed the street to see if he could help.

Gifter’s video camera was rolling as Felder told Samedov not to move. The suspect told store manager Adam Moustafa that his mother had just died and that he would never walk into the store again.

Samedov turned to walk away from the scene but Felder grabbed the suspect before he could flee the scene.

Felder told Samedov to sit down and as Gifter called 911, Samedov starting running eastward on Avenue J. A group of three sanitation workers who joined the chase, caught Samedov on East 16th Street between Avenues I and J and restrained him until the police arrived.

Samedov was arrested and charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen goods. The suspect has 23 prior arrests on assorted charges, including several arrests on similar charges.

Felder noted that while he urges all residents to be alert and to speak up if something seems amiss, the correct course of action would have been to call the police instead of getting personally involved.

“I wasn’t thinking straight,” said Felder. “I saw someone in trouble and I just reacted. If you see something, call the cops.”