TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Two Florida martial arts coaches took action Monday after a man was arrested after reportedly trying to steal $30,000 worth of Pokemon cards from a game store.
Newly released surveillance video shows an attempted theft at the Pro-Play Games store in the 1400 block of Southwest 107th Street in Miami.
The attempted robbery occurred when 33-year-old Jasiel Manfarol entered the store and asked to see a binder filled with Pokemon cards. NBC affiliate WTVJ reported that when the store owner placed a binder in front of Manfarol, he grabbed it and took it away.
The binder contained approximately 3,000 cards worth more than $30,000, according to Pro-Play Games.
“He saw me walk away when I said, 'Throw things away,' and he turned around and laughed,” general manager Anamirena Machado told WTVJ. “At that moment, I felt so helpless because we were just watching the $30, $40,000 we worked so hard for just go away.”
However, when the 33-year-old man fled the store, he was confronted by the store owner and two other bystanders. Police said Manfarol pulled out a pair of pliers and made “several stabbing motions” at one of the men who tried to stop him, WTVJ reported.
Manfarol also said in Spanish, “I'm going to stab you,” according to the arrest report.
According to WTVJ, he was able to escape from the group of men, but moments later encountered and tackled two coaches who were training at a nearby martial arts studio.
“My friend jumped out of the car and cut him off. That's when we got on top of him and used jiu-jitsu to subdue him,” Dominic Galliana told WTVJ.
Authorities arrived shortly after and arrested Manfarol. The 33-year-old homeless man was jailed on charges of grand theft and aggravated assault.
