Executive producer of Reacher, Mick Betancourt, a seasoned producer, writer, and showrunner known for his work on Chicago Fire, The Mob Doctor, Chicago P.D., and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, witnessed a violent crime unfold in real time and chose to intervene. Betancourt later recounted the incident in a Substack post, detailing how he chased an alleged assault suspect for over half a mile before the individual was apprehended.

Mick Betancourt says he caught a robbery/assault suspect in New York City

Known for producing and writing various crime shows, including Reacher, Mick Betancourt found himself involved in a real-life situation that mirrored the narratives depicted on screen.

In his Substack post, Betancourt described that on Friday, April 10, 2026, he was on the Lower East Side with his wife when he saw a man fleeing with a stolen bottle of alcohol. A shorter man, believed to be the owner of the store, was pursuing him.

“As they wrestled, I looked around, and nobody was helping. Nobody jumped in — including me,” he recalled. “In a flash, during the standing wrestling match, the robber got a hold of one of the store owner’s legs, lifted it up, effectively whiplashing the owner from a standing position to slamming his head into the concrete.”

Initially fearing that the owner had died from the impact, Betancourt made a split-second decision to act. He began chasing the suspect. “I didn’t want to go back to the scene and see them pulling a sheet over the guy or running caution tape around him and think I could’ve done something in that moment,” he stated.

In his Substack post, he provided detailed accounts of the chase. He explained his confrontation with the suspect: “You caught the wrong one today, motherf****r,” I said. “You’re not gonna outrun me, and if you turn and engage, I’ll kill you. I’ll take your life. But I’ll sit on the curb with you. You can even finish the bottle while we wait for the cops.” The pursuit lasted over half a mile and included various obstacles like crossing fences. Eventually, Betancourt encountered Housing Authority police officers who aided in apprehending the suspect.

The injured store owner survived the incident.

The individual involved was identified as 35-year-old Iysa Muhammad (via The Hollywood Reporter). He was charged with third-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

Betancourt’s actions garnered attention due to the unusual circumstances surrounding a television writer’s involvement in such an incident.