Metro Grandfather Makes Citizen's Arrest

A Oklahoma teenager was arrested after a fed up grandfather tracked him down for trying to rob his grandson. He then held him down and cuffed him until police could arrive.

“I'm not no hero or nothing. I'm just done,” said Harvey Privett, who is a grandparent raising a grandchild.

Privett has lived in his neighborhood near SE 47th and Dimple Dr. for the past 15 years. In that time he's seen break-ins at his house, his neighbor's house, and also down the street.

“There's just too much crime you know,” said Privett. “I don't know why, why is everyone doing it?”

So when 16-year-old Dameria Hastings tried to rob his grandson after he stepped off the school bus, the fed up grandfather felt things had finally gone too far.

“I could hear him outside screaming,” said Privett.

Harvey says he took off looking for the teen who tried to rob his own flesh and blood.

“I'll be honest with you, I wanted to hurt him,” said Privett.

He says he couldn't find the teen at first, but then he hopped into his truck, and found Hastings walking down Dimple Dr. about 50 yards from his home.

Privett says that's when the teen lunged right at him. So this quick thinking grandpa took that teenager down to the ground, and used handcuffs, which he had in his truck, to try to subdue him until police could arrive.

Privett says he used to be a bounty hunter, so he’s made arrests before. And he knew how to subdue the teen until officers could take over.

“And that was the only way I figured I could hold him,” said Privett.

Privett says once police did arrive, they discovered Hastings had a warrant for another robbery by force and fear. So they hauled him off to the Berry House, Oklahoma City’s juvenile detention center.

“He told me when he gets out, I'm dead,” said Privett. “I don't care. I’m done.”

And this grandfather actually has a very forgiving heart. He wants to help the teenager who was arrested and steer him away from a life of crime.

“Come over and talk to me,” said Privett. “You need money? I'll help you out. I will! I'll help everybody.”

Privett says he's trying to start up a neighborhood watch in his area. Until then, he says he'll keep an eye on things and hope his neighbors will too.