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Society establishes the criteria for determining whether someone is good or bad. Labeling someone as bad suggests they are forever fixed in that role or incapable of doing something positive. However, people are capable of change, and no matter how bad we perceive someone to be, they still have the potential for goodness.
10. The KKK Protests Against The Westboro Baptist Church
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), established in 1866, has a notorious history marked by violence, including cross burnings, lynchings, and bombings of African-American schools and churches. So when an organization known for its extreme hatred and violence expresses outrage over the actions of another group, you know it’s a level of absurdity that’s hard to comprehend. That’s exactly what occurred between the KKK and the Westboro Baptist Church.
The Westboro Baptist Church is another notorious group known for its hateful ideology. Unlike the KKK, which targets minorities, Westboro focuses its hatred on the LGBTQ+ community. They’re infamous for protesting at funerals, particularly those of soldiers, holding signs with messages like 'God hates gay people.'
While the KKK may target minorities, many of its members are former military personnel who are offended by the picketing of their fallen comrades’ funerals. In recent years, the KKK has appeared at military funerals to counter-protest the Westboro Baptist Church. They sing, distribute American flags, and greet mourners. Dennis LaBonte, the Imperial Wizard of the KKK, can be seen in the video above expressing his disapproval of the church's actions.
9. Burglars Foil a Pedophile's Plans
In 2009, two burglars broke into 24-year-old Richard Coverdale's home in Redcar, North Yorkshire. After looting the place and taking easily resold valuables, the burglars, a man and a woman, made a startling discovery: The man they had just robbed was a pedophile. The stolen laptop contained 78 illegal images, all involving minors.
The burglars found themselves in a tough spot—should they report what they had discovered to the police, risking their own arrest, or ignore the evidence to protect themselves? After considering their options, they chose the right course of action, confessing to the authorities about their crime and the disturbing images they had come across on the laptop.
When the burglars provided their information, the police uncovered the full extent of Mr. Coverdale's offenses. Along with the troubling images and videos, it was revealed that he had been posing as a young boy named Danny online, preying on vulnerable young women. Just before the burglary, he had invited a female student to a web chat, where he exposed himself on camera. The young woman later told police that she had harmed herself as a result of the encounter.
Richard Coverdale was sentenced to years in prison. The burglars received 12 months of community service, while the female victim was placed on probation.
8. A Career Criminal Rescues an Elderly Woman’s Life
Some might consider 36-year-old Jeff Rochford, a career criminal with 80 convictions—mainly for burglary—since the age of eight, a hopeless case. However, trying to turn his life around, the Stockton-On-Tees local found work as a window washer, and it was during this job that he saved 78-year-old June Hoyle’s life.
While working, Rochford noticed Ms. Hoyle through her window. She didn’t seem like her usual upbeat self, and he observed that part of her face was drooping. Recognizing the signs of a stroke, he immediately grabbed his phone, dialed 999, and stayed with her until the ambulance arrived.
It was later confirmed that Mr. Rochford was right—Ms. Hoyle had indeed suffered a stroke, and his prompt action likely saved her life.
Ms. Hoyle’s son personally visited Mr. Rochford to express his gratitude. He was quoted saying, 'He saved my mum’s life. I don’t care about his past. What he did was fantastic.' Jeff admits to having a troubled past, but he claims to have turned his life around. He is even working towards a diploma to become a peer mentor, hoping to help others escape the life of crime.
7. Homeless Criminal Rescues Police Officer From Attack
On August 26, 2013, San Francisco police received a report of a woman jumping on cars. An unnamed female officer responded to the call on her own, without backup. The suspect then began assaulting the officer, choking and beating her, while a small crowd stood by and did nothing to intervene.
As the suspect reached for the officer's gun, 35-year-old Ryan Raso, who had a criminal record with over a dozen arrests, including armed robbery and grand theft, realized he had to act. He ran toward the suspect and tackled her to the ground, successfully saving the officer.
It took police four days to locate Mr. Raso, who had fled the scene. Upon discovering that he was homeless, the officers offered him assistance in finding a place to stay and even replaced his headphones, which had been damaged during the altercation. Mr. Raso explained that he did what he felt was right, adding that his father, a former police officer in New York, would be proud of him.
6. Cousin of Mob Wives Star Saves Fellow Inmate from Suicide Attempt
Mob Wives is a well-known American reality television show that showcases the lives of the female relatives of infamous mobsters. While reality TV is often criticized for its authenticity, it's undeniable that these women are connected to some very dangerous men, and many still have family members with active ties to the Mafia.
One of the show's cast members, Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, is the niece of Salvatore 'Sally Dogs' Lombard, a former captain in the New York-based Genovese crime family. Her cousin, Luigi Grasso, is affiliated with the notorious Gambino crime family.
Now 48, Grasso started his criminal life at just 16, and his criminal record dates back to 1985. In 2014, he was sentenced to 38 years in prison for a deadly armed robbery committed with another known mob associate. Additionally, he faced charges for felony gun offenses unrelated to the robbery. While awaiting sentencing for these gun charges, Grasso did something remarkable—he saved another inmate’s life.
While sitting in the bullpen and reviewing his court documents, Grasso noticed an inmate attempting suicide by hanging from a noose made from a sweatshirt tied to the top of the cell. Without hesitation, Grasso sprang into action, lifting the man's head and safely bringing him down, thus saving his life.
During his court session, Judge Bruce Allen commended Grasso, stating, 'Before we proceed, we must recognize Mr. Grasso. He was instrumental in helping an inmate who was in distress. Thank you, Mr. Grasso.' Grasso was sentenced to 17 years for the weapons charges, which would run consecutively with his other sentence.
5. Handcuffed Teen Saves Police Officer Having A Heart Attack
In 2015, Jamal Rutledge, a teenager, was arrested and charged with violating his parole, stemming from past offenses of burglary and criminal mischief. He was brought to a jail in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for processing.
During the processing, Officer Franklin Foulks, 49, was sitting at his desk working on paperwork when he suddenly collapsed, clutching his chest and falling to the floor.
Rutledge, who was confined to a cage with the officer, quickly sprang into action. He approached Foulks to check on him, then yelled for help while kicking the fencing to get the attention of nearby officers. Upon hearing the noise, other officers arrived, performed CPR, and successfully revived Officer Foulks using a defibrillator. Throughout the commotion, Rutledge stayed calm—he didn’t try to escape but instead quietly sat in the corner, allowing the officers to care for Foulks.
Officer Foulks was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed that without the quick response, he would have died. In January 2015, Jamal and the officers who assisted were recognized and honored at a Fort Lauderdale commission meeting.
4. Inmates Save Three Boys From Drowning
In January 2013, ten inmates from Larch Corrections Center in Washington State were performing park maintenance as part of a supervised work release program. As they were wrapping up for the day, they heard frantic screams. Initially thinking it was just children playing, they soon noticed a capsized canoe and saw two heads bobbing in the water.
Three brothers, aged 8, 10, and 16, were canoeing in Salmon Creek when their boat flipped, throwing them into the cold, fast-moving water at 7°C (45°F) and with a current flowing at 40–48 kilometers per hour (25–30 mph). Inmate Nelson Pettis immediately shed his jacket and plunged into the icy water, letting the current carry him to the boys. He managed to grab the 8-year-old and 10-year-old. With debris in the water, they held on until rescue teams arrived.
Another inmate, Larry Bohn, dove in after the 16-year-old, successfully bringing him to safety. He then returned to assist Pettis with the younger children. A third inmate, Larry Fowler, helped the rescue teams bring the boys from the raft to the shore. They took off their sweaters and wrapped them around the boys to warm them up.
Pettis, Bohn, and the three boys were transported to the hospital where they were treated for mild hypothermia. The inmates stated that they acted as any good person would, with Fowler adding, 'Just because we’re incarcerated doesn’t mean we’re bad people. We made some poor choices, but we’re still human, just like everyone else. We’re just paying for the mistakes we've made.'
The boys and their family expressed a wish to meet the inmates to personally thank them. A spokesperson from Larch Corrections confirmed that the meeting was being arranged.
3. Parolee Dies Defending Woman From Mugger
Bobby Butler, a former heroin addict and ex-member of the Conservative Vice Lords gang, had a criminal history that spanned many years. His offenses included armed violence, theft, and drug dealing.
Despite his violent past, the 55-year-old father of four, recently released on parole, was making efforts to turn his life around. He had moved back in with his mother, joined a church, quit drugs, and even secured a job as a telemarketer.
On a rainy November day in 2010, Butler and a young woman, who remained unidentified, were leaving a train. A man dressed in dark clothing, holding a handgun, emerged and demanded the woman's purse. Butler shouted at the assailant to stop, but the man fired, striking Butler in the abdomen before fleeing with the purse.
Just two hours after arriving at Mount Sinai Hospital, Butler was declared dead.
The woman he saved, who chose to stay anonymous, was deeply grateful but also emotionally conflicted, saying, 'How can I feel happy that my life was saved when his was taken?'
A Crimestoppers reward led to the capture of the shooter. Though Butler had spent most of his life involved in crime, he died as a true hero.
2. Former Crip Leader Comes to the Aid of Police Officer Under Attack
The Crips, known as one of the most violent and infamous gangs in America, originated in Los Angeles and now have a nationwide presence, with significant influence in prisons. The antagonistic relationship between gang members and law enforcement is well-documented, making this story even more remarkable.
In 2012, Dallas police officer Billy Taylor confronted a man under the influence of PCP who was acting violently and attacking bystanders. As the situation escalated, the officer found himself trapped, armed with a baton, while the suspect approached him in an increasingly threatening manner. It was at this moment that former Crip gang leader Charles Alexander knew he had to intervene to protect the officer.
Alexander rushed into the scene, placed himself between the officer and the attacker, and executed a body slam, possibly saving Officer Taylor’s life. Though injured, Officer Taylor was taken to the hospital, but he made sure to thank Alexander personally before leaving.
In recognition of his actions, Alexander was awarded a certificate of merit by the Dallas Police Force. Dallas council member Dwaine Caraway remarked, 'If we had more people like Alexander, who have a change of heart, imagine how much better our country could be.'
1. The Hells Angels Purchase Every Bicycle at Walmart
Biker gangs have recently made headlines due to the shoot-out in Texas. While these gangs are often associated with criminal activities such as drug trafficking and murder, there's another, less publicized side to these groups—their extensive charity work, especially in supporting children in need.
The Hells Angels, who have been involved in charitable efforts for over 16 years, recently captured attention for a heartwarming gesture. During the 2014 Black Friday sales, members camped out at Walmart for five days, waiting for the moment to make a generous purchase. Once inside, they bought every single child's bicycle in the store—around 200 bikes. These bicycles were then donated to Poverello House, a California-based organization that aids the underprivileged.
In addition to their bike donation, the Hells Angels also organize an annual toy drive. You can watch an interview with member Merl Hefferman, who discusses the significance of helping children, in the video above.
