Former Married At First Sight groom Timothy Smith performed a dramatic citizen’s arrest at 3pm on Friday in Melbourne when he chased down a teenage boy allegedly armed with a machete.
Police arrested a 14-year-old boy, who allegedly attempted to carjack a woman with another teenager, after Smith, 52, managed to detain the youth when he ran, reported Seven News.
In shocking footage captured by CCTV, the reality TV star, 52, could be seen sprinting after the two youths in Prahran after he heard the commotion while standing outside his campaign office on Chatham St.
Smith was standing at the intersection of Chatham St and Chapel St when two black-clad individuals raced past him.
The TV star-turned-budding politician, who is running as an independent for an upcoming seat in the federal election, immediately took off after the pair.
Further clips saw Smith keeping the alleged machete-wielder detained until police arrived to arrest him.
Former Married At First Sight groom Timothy Smith, 52, performed a dramatic citizen’s arrest at 3pm on Friday in Melbourne when he chased down a teenage boy allegedly armed with a machete
Smith later claimed on Jacqui Felgate’s 3AW Drive that he was first alerted something was wrong when he heard nearby screams while talking with his campaign manager.
‘I was out the front talking to my campaign manager and then we heard some screams. Some guys came by, one with a machete, and I gave chase to the one with a machete,’ he alleged.
‘They were waving them around. As I was running behind him he kept yelling, “I’m gonna cut you,” but he wasn’t stopping.’
Smith went on to claim the teenager burst into tears when he realised he was about to be arrested, but the reality star wasn’t moved by the display.
‘He was young. When they have a knife in their hand they’re very confident. But once that knife’s gone the tears start. But how’s that lady gonna feel? That’s traumatic. His tears don’t do anything for me,’ Smith said.
Smith added he felt no fear for his own life when chasing after the boy, saying he was far more ‘annoyed’ with the wave of youth crime which has struck Melbourne in recent months.
Police are now questioning the 14-year-old boy while his alleged accomplice fled the scene.
They have urged anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police arrested a 14-year-old boy, who allegedly attempted to carjack a woman with another teenager, after Smith, 52, managed to detain the youth when he ran
In shock footage captured by CCTV, the reality TV star could be seen sprinting after the two youths in Prahran after he heard the commotion while standing outside his campaign office on Chatham St. Pictured: the machete allegedly wielded by the boy
It comes after Smith vowed to clean up Melbourne’s streets as he runs for office in his home suburb of Prahran, with a view to improve life for citizens in the area.
Smith, who appeared on MAFS last year, is running as an independent and says he is not aligned with any political party.
‘I’ve been a Prahran local renter before recently buying my own apartment, so I understand firsthand the challenges of rising crime, unaffordable housing, and high rents—and I’m ready to tackle these issues head-on,’ he wrote in his mission statement on his website.
‘I’m not bound by any political party, which means I can focus on what truly matters to you—practical solutions that benefit all Melburnians.
‘I’m determined to create a Melbourne that works for everyone, where the cost of living is manageable, housing is affordable, and crime is under control. Together, we will make this happen.’
Smith’s focus is tackling the ‘escalating cost of living, and rising crime rates, to the housing crisis’.
