Alan Ritchson says he helped catch a wanted criminal in a way that would make Jack Reacher proud.

Alan Ritchson took justice into his own hands in real life, channeling his character from Reacher.

Perhaps best known for his role as Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s hit series Reacher, Alan Ritchson addressed his casting in a new interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

The actor shared a story of how he was on a date with his wife when the two of them observed how a burglar had just broken into a nearby car to steal some of the valuables inside. While his wife had initially suggested that Ritchson not get involved, the actor felt compelled to do something, so he quickly sprung into action.

“So, this guy pulls out of this car, and he’s got like, four duffel bags of stuff,” Ritchson explained. “And he starts running towards us, and I was like, ‘That dude definitely just broke into that car.’

We lock eyes as he passes, and I was like, ‘Oh no.’ He’s definitely like an ACME villain, and I’m going to have to do something about this. She goes, ‘We’re on a date.’ I go, ‘Please, I have to do this.’ She goes, ‘Please don’t do this!'”

Ritchson continued, “I took off, and I started chasing this dude, and by the time he got past us, he was scooting pretty good. He turned the corner, you know, he took a left, I took a left. I see him at the end of the street. I’m like, ‘I’m gonna hunt this dude down.’

So, he takes another left. I come around the corner, and the dude, like David Copperfield, he’s gone. And there was not that much time. I made up some ground… and somebody, way down the block, goes, ‘He’s under the van!’ I look under the van three feet in front of me [and see him]… and he starts scooting, like, he does this little scoot… I go, ‘Just give it up dude.’ And he leaves the duffel bag [and runs off], and I’m like, ‘I’m not done yet.’”

Though the thief had left behind the stolen valuables, Alan Ritchson was intent on making sure he faced justice for the crime. Even after dropping off the added weight, however, the burglar was not quick enough to escape from Ritchson. The Reacher star said the situation ultimately got physical when he suspected that the criminal was preparing to attack him.

“He gets off and starts running, and I’m side by side with him now, because I’m pretty fast. He also was fast, but I was faster,” Ritchson said. “So, I’m side by side, I’m like, ‘Dude. Don’t do this.’ And he starts to ball up his hands, like he’s going to punch me or something.

I’m like, ‘Don’t touch me. I’m gonna have to end this.’ And he goes to push me, and I — lovingly, I love all people, I’m a pacifist at heart — I gently take him like a shot put, like a discus, and I twirl him right into the building, and he just slides down like a cartoon character.

Alan Ritchson Helped Catch a Wanted Criminal

Ritchson went on to explain how he believes the police told him that the suspect was the “most prolific car burglar in Old Montreal,” so he had helped catch someone who’d been wanted for a while. The actor also said that the owners of the car had showed up after the burglar was apprehended, giving him high-fives and thanking him for getting involved.