A group of off-duty officers were in the right place at the right time.
They were able to help bring to an end a chase for three attempted burglary suspects in Sacramento County, California.
“I arrived in the area and I noticed two other suspects that matched the description so as I made a U-turn to try and stop them they took off running through the school here behind us,” said Deputy Matt Curtis.
That’s when suspect: 20-year-old James Hill, Jr. and his 17-year-old brother who were trying to escape Sacramento sheriff’s deputies, got a big surprise.
They ran right into an entire football team of law enforcement officers practicing at Foothill High School.
“He made a bad choice running onto the field. He was running from a couple guys and run onto a field with 50 of us,” said Deputy Shane Gregory.
And all 50 officers jumped into police mode. By splitting up and chasing both young men wanted for an attempted burglary on Robert Frost Way in Foothill Farms.
“I just asked him to come over and talk to me and he took off running,” said officer TJ Price.
“We’re off duty right now having fun and you don’t expect a criminal to come right in your lap and take off running from you.”
Deputy Matt Curtis who had been chasing the suspects had no idea the football players were actually law enforcement officers.
“I was thinking they were just a football team helping us out and doing us a favor.”