When a Florida man tried to drive off in a stolen car with two children inside, a group of bystanders jumped in to help. The incident occurred March 12, 2025, outside a Jacksonville, Florida, Department of Motor Vehicles office. Yanni Human, 26, allegedly attempted to steal a woman’s car while she desperately tried to free her children. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office released a video of the terrifying ordeal, thanking the Good Samaritans for help.
The sheriff’s office removed the video from social media, but several news outlets shared it, including the New York Post. The surveillance video appears to show Human allegedly stealing the car with 2-year-old and 6-month-old children inside. The mother frantically tried to stop him and hung out of the open back door as Human attempted to drive away. Bystanders immediately jumped in to help.
Per Fox News, “More than a dozen Jacksonville Good Samaritans stepped in during a dangerous situation, potentially saving a mother and two children from serious injury or worse,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post describing the terrifying scene.
Human drove away, but witnesses provided a detailed description to authorities. They arrested him a short time later. A deputy’s body cam captured Human struggling with police prior to his arrest.
He faces charges of child abuse, false imprisonment, battery, marijuana possession, and resisting an officer without violence, per Fox News.
“This situation could have ended in tragedy. Your JSO is grateful for the quick action and bravery of the Good Samaritans who stepped up and helped bring the suspect to justice,” JSO added to its Facebook post.
The day after his arrest, Human posted on Facebook asking for help. He wrote, “Loosing everything sucks on road to recovery get my life back stuck in Jacksonville with nowhere to go lost everything I need help send prayers please.”
A friend asked, “What do you need help with brada?”
Human responded he wanted to help to get an Uber following his release from jail. He then alleged, “on top everything cops beat the shit out of me I have black eyes now was sprayed with mace repeatedly put in crazy chair officers took turns using me as a punching bag left in solitary confinement for hours covered in mace busted my nose and lip nots all over my head probably have a concussion now don’t go to jail in Jacksonville.”
It’s unclear when Human will appear in court next.
