Good Samaritan Honored For Saving Officer's Life During Shootout

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A good Samaritan was honored Thursday, credited for saving the life of an officer during a shootout in Miami.

Miami Police Officer Rosny Obas, with his 8-month-old son in his arms, shared an emotional embrace with William Ramirez who is credited with saving the officer's life during a shootout on April 14th.

It happened at Miami City Hall before the Miami City Commission on Thursday morning.

There were emotional moments as everyone in the City Commissioner chamber applauded. Ramirez was overwhelmed and humbled and shed tears as he was being honored.

"I'm very happy for my life and for the life of the police," Ramirez told CBS4's Peter D'Oench. "The police has a family and I am happy that family is happy for me. I feel happy, not just for me but for the police and the community and everybody."

Ramirez received a proclamation for bravery from the City of Miami, the city also named Thursday William Ramirez Day. The Fraternal Order of Police also gave Ramirez its unsung hero plaque and a $1000 check.

Obas thanked Ramirez in front of the Commission.

"I truly believe that God sent me to Ramirez that day and without him I would not be standing here," Obas said. "Mister Ramirez was part of God's plan and I am eternally grateful."

Ramirez drove the officer to safety after police said an angry cab driver opened fire on the officer with an assault rifle near Northwest 4th Avenue and 79th Street and also

wounded two innocent bystandars in separate incidents in Miami and in North Miami.

After the Miami incident, Ramirez told CBS4's Carey Codd that the suspect, Frantzy Amand, started shooting a few feet from him and his car and the officer who tried to pull the suspect over hid and fired back but was outgunned.

Ramirez said he drove the shaken and shaking officer several blocks to safety.

"There are a lot of heroes in this community and Mr. Ramirez is one of them because he put his own life on the line to save another human being," Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes said.

Police said the suspect shot an innocent bystander at the first scene before speeding away in the police officer's car.

North Miami Police reportedly confronted the suspect a short time later. Police said the suspect again shot at police and wounded another bystander before cops shot him.

Javier Oritz, the President of the Fraternal Order of Police, said "He was just driving down the street and to do something like that was incredible. This was a great thing. Officer Ortiz was a hero."

Mayor Tomas Regalado also praised Ramirez, saying "we need more people like that in the South Florida community. Hr rushed in to save the officer's life even though he could have been shot."

Stanley Gilley, who was the City of Miami dispatcher who assisted on the call that helped Officer Obas after Ramirez took action, was also honored.

Officer Obas has been on the force less than a year and had only been on patrol alone for three months.

Obas is still on administrative leave but the police union president expects him to return to the streets of Miami.