A barista gives chase, and thus a hero is born
KATHLEEN MERRYMAN; THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Published: October 4th, 2008 12:30 AM
In these dim to dark times, we need a hero more than ever.

When evil is afoot, we need someone prepared to outrun it, and to inspire others to join the chase.

We need someone whose strength comes not from some exotic element, but from an everyday source. Caffeine would do.

And it would be swell if, having seen the bad guy embraced by the long arm of the law, our hero could burst into song. Possibly even dance.

Hurrah, then, for Derek Konzelman.

The University of Washington Tacoma student was working one of his two jobs Monday.

Some days he counts cars for an engineering firm. Some days he makes macchiatos at Forza Coffee Company at 201 W. Pioneer Ave. in Puyallup. In his spare time he plays in three bands, including Acclaim, the worship band at Bethany Baptist Church in Puyallup. You might have caught his parents and siblings at the Puyallup Fair. He’s the third-oldest sibling in the Konzelman Family band.

Mondays are slow in the coffee business. You’d think the opposite, but that’s the way it is. That’s why, instead of lining up lattes, Derek was cleaning up the coffee shop lobby. More precisely, he was vacuuming windowsills while his brother, Drew, and colleague Katie Butala worked the counter.

His fellow barista, Madelynne Myers, was in having coffee, sitting near a young woman who was working on her laptop computer.

In walked a semi-scruffy guy, maybe 6 feet tall, maybe 25, blond, shorts, hiking boots, tank top. He was behaving oddly, looking around, going to the bathroom, then coming back in to where folks were sitting and looking around some more.

“The girl who was typing on the laptop set it on the coffee table and turned to the opposite side to reach into her book bag,” Derek said. “The guy grabbed her computer, ran around the end of the table, ran 15 feet and busted through the door. I saw him sprinting down the sidewalk.”

Derek did a double-take. Madelynne yelled that the guy had stolen something. Derek took off running after him.

The thought crossed Derek’s mind that this guy was not the bounciest track shoe on the rack. He was running toward the Police Department. Then the guy took a sharp turn, and Derek noticed that a little black Honda appeared to be following him. He heard another vehicle peel out behind him as he kept up the pursuit.

“The guy opened the door to a light blue sedan, and as he’s getting in, he’s yelling ‘Drive! Drive!’ at the girl in it,” Derek said.

What happened next made him grin even while he was dialing 911 on his cell phone.

The small black car pulled in front of the thief’s car. The vehicle that had peeled out turned out to be a four-door pickup. It pulled in behind the blue car. Without knowing each other, without communicating at all, the two drivers were trying to box in the blue car.

It almost worked.

“The blue car was able to pull out around the truck,” Derek said. “It took off down the street. The pickup truck took off following. It was so cool.”

Meanwhile, the cell phones were blazing.

The woman in the black car had the blue car’s plate. The guy in the pickup apparently had the location.

Half an hour later, Puyallup police were at Forza, returning the laptop to the young woman.

“Everybody clapped,” Derek said.

The good news kept coming. The arrested snatcher had four outstanding warrants. The alleged abettor, the presumptive sweet thiefette, was supposed to be on house arrest.

Now the two of them are steeping in the hot water they deserve, thanks to a cast of speedy baristas, alert drivers and helpful cell phoners.

“I was so proud of my city, and the people who came to help,” Derek said.

Back at you, Mr. Konzelman.

You’re our hero.

Kathleen Merryman: 253-597-8677

kathleen.merryman@thenewstribune.com