New safe delivered by law enforcement to restaurant that was robbed over the weekend
VANCOUVER — Charles Bibens looked out the window of his restaurant, saw a van pulling into a parking spot, and he noticed several law enforcement vehicles, lights on, closing in on the van.
Bibens thought the driver of the van must be in some trouble, with all that attention.
It turns out, this was no pursuit.
And the only police activity was an act of kindness for Bibens and Goldies Texas Style BBQ.
The driver of the van was Jason Hattrick of Kindness 911. And the extraordinary arrival outside the restaurant Wednesday afternoon was just the opening scene for a way to give back to Bibens, who has meant so much to the law enforcement community.
Inside the restaurant are pictures of first responders, military, athletes, and other “heroes” of the community and the nation.
Last week, Goldies was robbed. A safe was taken. Bibens said not a lot was in the safe, but just the fact that the restaurant was broken into left him and his staff a little shaken.
Kindness 911 and representatives from several law enforcement agencies presented Bibens with a new safe on Wednesday. Eventually, that safe will be bolted down into the floor. It won’t be going anywhere.
Bibens was in tears over the gesture.
“It was overwhelming, really,” Bibens said. “It was great to see that appreciation of what I do. I do it because I love those guys. For them to do that, it was fantastic, over the top. I just pray to God to keep them safe, all of them safe.”
The officers also ordered food from the restaurant after the presentation of the safe.
Hattrick also asked his followers on social media to make a point of visiting Goldies when they can.
“Let him serve you. That fills his heart,” Hattrick said.
On Thursday, though, it was Kindness 911 serving Bibens and Goldies.
“It is important for us to give back to the givers,” Hattrick said. “We impact our community one kind act at a time. Today it was for Charles Bibens.”
Representatives from Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Ridgefield PD, Cowlitz Tribal PD, and Vancouver PD were on hand.
“I think Clark County is in a great place to show our region, our state, and beyond what relationships can do in a community,” Hattrick said. “We’re people first, with hearts that are the same, and we have the opportunities to take care of one another. That’s what Clark County strives to do.”
