WAFF reporter foils attempted robbery by convicted sex offender - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

A reporter for WAFF stopped a robbery by a convicted sex offender at Kroger on Oakwood Avenue Thursday night.

Huntsville police said just after midnight, Misty Suwarow, a Kroger manager, was walking to her car at the Kroger in the 2100 block of Oakwood Avenue when a man approached her and asked for money. When she refused to give him any money, the man opened the door and jumped on top of her. 

Police said Suwarow yelled at him to get out of her car and stop. He refused and tried to push her out of the car. Police said a bystander, WAFF reporter Vincent Crivelli, witnessed the attempted robbery and ran over to Suwarow's car. 

Authorities said Crivelli grabbed the offender, pulled him out of the car, and held him on the ground until police arrived. 

The man was identified as 59-year-old Leonard Grey. He was arrested for third-degree robbery and was taken to the Huntsville/Madison County Metro Jail.

Records show that Grey had previously been charged with a sex offender act and was accused of living too close to a child development center. He pleaded guilty and is on probation, according to documents.

Crivelli said a Kroger employee recognized him as he was holding the man down. The employee said, "You're the man with the news!"

Crivelli said, "I'm with 48 and we investigate."

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