Man's 330-pound frame blocks getaway car

CANTON (AP) -- Authorities said a salesman's large frame may have saved his life when he allegedly was run over by a getaway car after a theft at a Canton electronics store where he worked.
The car finally was stopped by an off-duty Summit County deputy sheriff who was in the store Saturday.
The driver, Christy Brown, 24, of Louisville, was charged with vehicular assault and her companion, Thad Carr, 26, of Canton, was charged with robbery and vehicular assault, police said.
According to a Stark County sheriff's report, salesman Mustafa Abdul-Waajid, 19, of Canton spotted Carr trying to leave with a $1,600 DVD car player.
"I started to chase after him, but I didn't want to approach him, so I went behind the car to get his license plate," Abdul-Waajid said.
As he stood behind the car memorizing the plate, the car leaped in reverse, knocking him down, Abdul-Waajid said. A back tire ran onto his left shoulder but not over it. Authorities credited his 330-pound frame with stopping the car. He received minor injuries but no broken bones.
"He was the stopper to the tire," said Summit County Deputy Frank Cocciolone, who ran out of the store seconds behind Abdul-Waajid.
"It was just grinding him into the ground and the exhaust was burning the heck out of his body."
Cocciolone said he identified himself as a police officer, drew his gun, and yelled for the two to stop the car.