"" The compassion shown by Officer William
Stacy to desperate Alabama mother Helen
Johnson captured the nation's attention at a
time of strained relations between the police
and black Americans.
Instead of arresting her for stealing five eggs
to feed her starving family on Saturday, Stacy
bought the carton and the touching hug they
shared afterwards caught on video by a
stunned passer-by went viral.
But it got even better on Wednesday when
Officer Stacy and some colleagues arrived at
47-year-old Johnson's home with two
truckloads of food to keep her and her
children and grandchildren fed through
Christmas.
'The last time I saw my house this full, I was
12-years-old and staying with my
grandmother,'' said Johnson to Al.Com . 'I've
been crying all day.'
The reaction to the viral hug was so imense
that Tarrant Police Chief Dennie Reno said
that he had to bring in a second police
dispatch officer just to field the calls of
donations for Johnson coming in from the
around the country.
'As of right now, with all the stuff going on in
Ferguson and New York and all over the US,
it's good to have this kind of story,' said
Officer Stacy to AL.Com. 'It gives a positive
image for law enforcement.'
Officers also set up a fund at People's First
Federal Credit Union in Tarrant with all the
money pouring in destined to be handed to
the Johnson family.
'It's growing and growing and growing,' said
Reno to Al.Com . 'A guy called me from New
York and just broke down. He said for two
months he's been angry with police, and he
said this has totally changed his mind.'
But Reno said that the best outcome for
everyone out of the heart-warming episode
was that Johnson will not be forced to steal
just to feed her family, especially during the
Holidays.
'This woman's getting plenty of food,' said
Reno to Al.com . 'She shouldn't be hungry for
a while.'
Every week Johnson feeds her two daughters,
niece and two grandchildren, ages 1 and 3
with her welfare check of just $120 a month.
However, last week the money was lost in the
mail, leaving the Johnsons perilously close to
starvation.
By Saturday, the family had not eaten for two
days, so Johnson went to Dollar General with
only $1.25 to try and buy eggs.
To her despair she found herself 50 cents
short of the tax and put five eggs into her
pockets.
At the time it may not have seemed that way,
but fortuitously the eggs broke in her pocket.
'I am not a good thief at all,' said Johnson to
Al.Com.
Stopped as she tried to leave with egg whites
and yolks dripping from her jacket pocket,
Johnson admitted immediately she had stolen
them.
The store had already called the police and
when Officer Stacy arrived he told her to stay
where she was while he spoke to the store
owners.
They decided together not to press charges
against Johnson but when they went to speak
to the grandmother she expected the
handcuffs to come out.
'She started crying, she got very emotional
and was very apologetic,' said Stacy said.
'She tried to give me the money she had on
her, $1.25.'
It was then that Stacy explained that she was
not going to be arrested. He remembered her
from a prior visit to her house and recalled
how poverty stricken she was. Her family all
sleep on mattresses on the floor.
'The story she told me Saturday matched up
with what I had seen when I was there,' said
Stacy according to Al.com.
'I felt like it was the right thing to do. I didn't
want to pass judgment on her.'
He bought her a carton of eggs and when
Johnson asked Stacy how she could repay
him, he simply asked her never to shoplift
again.
'I hope she won't do it again. I pray she
doesn't, and I don't think she will,' said Stacy.
Just before she got into her car, Johnson
turned to hug Stacy and unknown to them,
the moment was captured on cellphone by
Robert 'Dollar' Tripp who posted it to
Facebook with the hashtag,
'feelgoodstoryoftheday'.""
Link.

Awe, that is heartwarming! Ty for a feel good story : )

@WalkSoftly: Nice

@WalkSoftly: you pr!ck, you made me have to put on my reading glasses!

Lmao!!!

Hell's teeth. You're younger than me man. Squint fer crissakes!

Nah, squinting is a dead give away to a cop that you're reading something and should be wearing glasses! Unless I am required to have cops escort my load, I prefer when they keep their distance.

@Wolf1966: do you work in corrections in a county jail or at a private corrections facility?

In a state facility .

@Wolf1966: any plans on going full time P.O.?