Safeway Worker Suspended After Saving Pregnant Woman From Attack

Posted: May 15, 2012 9:05 PM
Updated: May 15, 2012 9:15 PM
By Jacqueline Tualla



DEL REY OAKS - A local Safeway grocery store suspends a worker for being a hero.

Del Rey Oaks Police said Ryan Young stopped a man from beating his pregnant girlfriend, and possibly saved her life.

But his actions may cost him his job.

"We're expecting a child," Young said. "I've been suspended for just about a month now without pay for doing something I feel was right, that police said was right."

Young was doing his job as a meat clerk when he said he looked up and saw Quyen Van Tran was beating his girlfriend.

"Every few seconds he would turn around and push her and then he actually kicked her," Young said. "I told him to calm down and he was just irate."

Young said Tran refused to stop so he jumped in and pushed him away.

"I saw no one was interfering in the situation and I just became afraid for her safety and also other customers," Young said. "The guy was out of control and pretty much lost it in there."

Police Chief Ron Langford said Tran was getting so violent if Young didn't interfere things could have gotten a lot worse for the victim.

Now, a month later, police said Young did the right thing, but Safeway disagrees and suspended him from work without pay and there's no word on if or when he'll be back on the job.

"We understand about policy but at some point somebody has to do something and in my mind in this case Ryan did the right thing," Langford said.

Young is worried because his wife is five months pregnant and they have no income right now and doesn't know when that will change.

"It's a tremendous amount of stress on me, my wife as well and I don't think anyone should have to second guess themselves or feel bad doing something that was right," Young said.

Even if Safeway doesn't agree, because he didn't follow policy, Young has no regrets.

"How many people have been injured, murdered, whatever in front of everyone because everyone looks the other way and no one wants to get involved?" he said.

SOURCE: http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/18430495/safeway-worker-suspended-after-saving-pregnant-woman-from-attack