Veteran NYC security officer helps catch Times Square maniac
New York City NY May 19 2017 A fearless security guard with more than 20 years’ experience helped bring down the suicidal motorist who went on a deadly, three block rampage in Times Square on Thursday.
Speaking to The Post just hours after the incident, Ken Bradix, 47, of Bensonhurst, recalled how he used his skills as a security guard at Planet Hollywood to subdue the crazed suspect.
“Once I heard, ‘Get him,’ I kicked into gear and then security came out,” the brute said, remembering how a traffic agent was telling people to grab 26-year-old Richard Rojas, after he exited his Honda Accord and started running around madly.
“I tackled him from his left side, and we both fell to the ground,” Bradix explained. “There was an off-duty police officer who also helped me out, [helped me] hold him down on the ground, and one of the guys from CitySights…The cops came seconds later.”
Rojos, who was allegedly on K2, had just mowed down nearly two dozen bystanders in Times Square — killing one and injuring 22 more before crashing his car into a stanchion at Broadway and 45th Street.
Bradix had been outside Planet Hollywood when he spotted the Accord plowing people over.
“I saw the guy careening down the street, up on the sidewalk,” he said. “He crossed over 45th street and crashed into the pole, the car lifted up, spun around and crashed down on the rear wheels, and the car caught fire.”
“The guy got out of the car, running, screaming — not any particular words — he was just screaming and flailing his arms,” Bradix said. “He was running toward me.”
While reports claimed Bradix punched Rojas in the face and knocked him out cold, the bulky security guard insisted this wasn’t the case.
“I did not knock him out,” he said. “It was just exaggerated.”
Bradix, who has been doing security for 25 years, told The Post he’s used to dealing with out-of-control people like Rojas.
“It’s not normal out here. It really isn’t,” he said of the Times Square crowd. “So, I’ve gone through a couple of things — but nothing like this.”
The security guard added that at the time, he was just doing what he thought was right.
“I am not a hero,” Bradix said. “I was doing what I hope anyone would do.”
NY Post
