Community Corner

Bam-Bam's Last Heroic Act: Tow Truck Driver Dies Helping Police

Glenn "Bam-Bam" Sanco died while Dec. 27 in a heroic act of public service. He will be laid to rest this weekend.

ARCOLA, TX — A man who died while helping a Texas state trooper catch a feeling suspect during a traffic stop is being called a hero. Glenn “Bam-Bam” Sanco, 31, who’d served on the Arcola City Council and who always wanted to be a police officer, died Dec. 27, only moments after he tackled a man who’d run from a state trooper.

It wasn’t really by chance that Sanco showed up with his tow truck at the scene of a traffic stop, at FM 521 and Trammel-Fresno Road. He'd heard the call on his radio and just wanted to make sure the trooper didn’t need any help.

Sanco had done the same thing earlier that day for another state trooper who was dealing with two unruly suspects on a traffic stop.

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But things suddenly calmed down, when Sanco, who stood at a solid 6-feet-10, heard the commotion on his tow truck radio, pulled up and got out of the truck.

However, this time, it was different.

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During that fateful encounter, the man broke and ran from the trooper and directly toward Sanco and his wrecker. Sanco tackled the suspect and held him down until deputies had him handcuffed.

Immediately after his amazing act of kindness, Sanco suddenly collapsed on the side of the roadway. Deputies administered CPR, and called EMS, but Sanco died at the hospital.

His family believes it was a massive heart attack that caused his death, although results from am autopsy are still pending.

His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help cover expenses, and they are also hosting a memorial trailride. Sanco leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 8 and 6.

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Image: GoFundMe

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