Police search for 'citizen hero' who helped nab wanted fugitive

Police are searching for a citizen who helped officers apprehend a wanted fugitive during a chase — and they want to thank him.

The Korean National Police Agency posted on its official social media Thursday, sharing the story and calling for the public's help in finding the "citizen hero" who assisted during the pursuit.

According to footage posted by police, on June 23 Officer Kim Hyun-jung of the Daeyeon district unit under Busan Nambu Police Station was conducting a traffic stop on a street in Nam-gu, Busan, when he spotted a motorcyclist committing signal and instruction violations and called for the rider to pull over.

The rider, identified only as A, ignored the order and fled, eventually parking the motorcycle and ducking into a nearby building to hide in a restroom.

Officers located A and began an identity check, but A gave false personal information and seized on a moment when Kim was calling for backup to bolt again.

A foot chase unfolded over several hundred meters until Kim shouted for help and a bystander grabbed A, allowing officers to make the arrest.

The apprehension took place right in front of a police district office, and officers returning from patrol rushed over to assist.

It later emerged that A had been on a wanted list after failing to pay a 7 million won ($4,640) fine imposed for unlicensed driving and other offenses.

The citizen who helped make the arrest left the scene immediately afterward, however, and officers were unable to get his name or properly thank him.

"Both A and I were pretty worn out from the chase when I spotted a citizen ahead and shouted, 'Please grab him' — thankfully, he helped," Kim said. "Things were so hectic at the scene that I didn't even get to ask his name or express my gratitude properly."

"If I ever find out who he is, I really want to thank him in person," he added.

The Korean National Police Agency said that thanks to Officer Kim Hyun-jung's relentless pursuit and the active assistance of the citizen hero, they were able to apprehend the wanted suspect," adding that "the citizen who provided assistance should contact the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency's public relations office upon seeing this video."

In a comment on the post, the agency also said: "We sincerely thank the citizen hero who helped apprehend the wanted fugitive," and "we ask that as many people as possible share this video and send tips so that the Busan citizen hero in the footage can see it."