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Citizens Help Police Capture Baltimore's Public Enemy No. 1

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- With the help of the community, Baltimore's latest Public Enemy No. 1 is now behind bars. WJZ's Rick Ritter has new video of the 19-year-old being taken into custody.

From a heinous murder to a cry for sympathy, new video obtained by WJZ shows 19-year-old Christopher Straham -- Public Enemy No. 1 -- pleading with officers after he was turned into police.

"They got my picture and put it on TV. That wasn't me. That wasn't me," Straham says in the video.

WJZ first showed exclusive video of Straham being locked inside the Eagle Mart after he was caught stealing Wednesday night.

The owners of the store and other good Samaritans recognized him as Public Enemy No. 1, held the 19-year-old down and called police.

Many hope the incident turns a page in the city, where some have long feared retaliation if they ever were to speak out or a turn a suspect in.

"It says that we're tired," said Delores Jones.

"It's definitely enough. Enough is enough," said Demeetrious Cooper.

"I think we're just tired of being afraid in the city that we were born and raised in," Jones.

"It's something that I wish we saw more often. It''s something that shows the resiliency of Baltimore citizens," said City Councilman Brandon Scott.

Scott hopes the arrest sticks with citizens, showing them how crucial they can be in helping to grapple with the violence.

"We could solve every crime, every murder, every shooting, everything in the city if people did a better job of speaking up," he added.

Police say Straham was in the process of trying to have his tattoos removed to hide his identity. He is scheduled back in court in January.

Straham is being charged with first- and second-degree murder.

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