Kalamazoo detective helps stop crime while running race

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — An off-duty officer found herself in the right place at the right time during Sunday’s Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon.

Detective Ondreya Anderson was aiming for a personal record last weekend when she signed up for the half marathon. But come mile three, her focus quickly turned from her timing to everyone’s personal safety.

“I turn on to Tipperary … and I noticed a vehicle. It was rocking back and forth,” she said. “Shaking back and forth.”

Two people were arguing, and the man behind the wheel was “beating on the dashboard,” she said.

“So, instantly I thought about a possible domestic violence incident, which is unfortunately very common in the city of Kalamazoo.”

Anderson said as she got closer to the vehicle in question, she noticed the man pull out a gun and the woman inside scream for help.

That’s when she “just immediately, without even realizing, went from citizen to police officer,” she said.

Another runner flagged down a nearby officer, who was working crowd control, to assist Anderson in deescalating the situation.

“The male does get out with his hands out. My partner holsters his duty weapon, and he attempts to cuff,” she said.

But the suspect “was able to wriggle free” and ran away.

While the other officer pursued the suspect on foot, Anderson stayed by the woman’s side, monitoring nearby runners and their safety.

The male suspect was captured shortly after by assisting officers.

Once Anderson knew everyone was safe, she returned to the race.

When asked what her final time was, Anderson laughed and begrudgingly said, “She knows how mad I am. So, I was shooting for 2:10 and I came in about 2:31.”

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