Christian Mom Thanks 'Good Samaritan' Cop for Not Profiling Black Son in Viral Facebook Post
A Christian mom in Virginia recently took to social networking site Facebook to express her gratitude to a Virginia state trooper, who she called a "Good Samaritan," for not profiling her African-American son and instead helping him fix a flat tire.
In a Facebook post that has since gone viral, Dr. Nada Owusu, a pediatrician at Danville Regional Medical Center, first praised God followed by State Trooper Matt Okes, for his random act of kindness. The May 15 post has garnered more than 400 likes and received over 26,000 shares.
"Facebook friends, join be in expressing my gratitude to God and to Officer Okes, Matt, a Virginia state police officer," she wrote, alongside a photo of her college student son, Joseph, with Okes.
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"I took this picture at 2 a.m. in the middle of nowhere. My son had his back tire blown off his car last night on his way home from school. This kind officer approached him, didn't ask if the little Mercedes was stolen but rather got on his knees to replace his tire. When his effort failed he stayed with my son all night till we arrived at 1 a.m. with triple A."
Okes is said to have waited with Joseph, who was driving home from an exam at Virginia Tech, when his tire blew on Route 220, for nearly four hours until help arrived.
Hundreds of Facebook users, including Emmy award-winning TV personality Montel Williams, hailed Okes a "hero," for which the officer said the recognition has been "overwhelming."
"The attention the photo has generated on social media has been overwhelming, and I certainly wasn't expecting the photo to receive as much attention as it has," Trooper Okes said in a statement obtained by ABC 13. "I was simply doing my job as any other Virginia state trooper would. I appreciate the kind comments by Dr. Owusu and am glad Joseph and his parents were able to finally make it home safe. I am honored to be a member of the Virginia state police and am blessed by God to serve and protect."
Owusu's heartfelt post comes in the wake of ongoing racial unrest across the U.S. stemming from a number of high profile cases involving white police officers and African-American males.
