Fallen Cop's Son Can't Buy Dad's Car, Sees a Stranger Holding Hand Out to Him with the Keys

There is still room for kindness in a world full of hate, and a stranger proved it. This story details how the stranger's surprising and kind gesture reduced a disappointed young man to tears. What did the stranger do? Continue reading to find out.

Many believe death is easier for those who died than for those they have left behind. The bereaved would go through regret, loss, and grief in the following months. To cope with this trauma, many do away with the deceased's prized possessions, which aids in their healing process.

On the other hand, others hold onto those items because they preserve the memories of their dead loved ones. Sadly, sometimes, the deceased's properties are withheld from the family members, given to charity, or put on sale.

This makes the family members go to extra lengths to get their loved ones' items back into their possession. The above was the case of Tanner Brownlee, who tried to get his late father's car back during an auction.

Unfortunately, the car was sold to someone else, but Tanner would receive one of the biggest surprises in the end. Here are the details of the intriguing story.

DETAILS OF TANNER'S ORDEAL BEFORE THE AUCTION

In 2010, Tanner's father, Deputy Sam Brownlee, died in the line of duty after a police chase. Tanner was given his father's motorcycle jacket when he died, which meant the world to him.

The young man also had other items to remember his father by, including picture frames plastered all over his house. However, one of Sam's significant properties was not in Tanner's possession — his squad car. Five years after the deputy's death, the Weld County Sheriff's office decided to auction Sam's car.

The auction aimed to raise money for Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), an organization that aids survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. When Tanner heard about the charity event, he was prepared to do whatever it would take to get Sam's car.

"It'll mean a lot to me and my brother. We've been through a lot," Tanner confessed. Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams also confirmed how valuable the car was. According to the man:

"This is kind of the end of Sam's legacy here. It's the last tangible thing we have that he was connected to."

So, Tanner opened a GoFundMe to help raise money, noting that he wanted to show his father that he was a grown man and could handle the responsibility of keeping Sam's legacy alive. Thankfully, kind-hearted individuals contributed to the cause, and Tanner raised almost $3,500.

THE CHARITY EVENT THAT LEFT TANNER IN TEARS

On the day of the charity event, the Weld County native went with high hopes. In his words:

"I think I'm just going to look around, see what everyone else is doing and try to copy them. Just up them by one."

However, things did not go as planned for Tanner. Shortly into the auction, the car price had gone far above the amount the young man had gotten from the GoFundMe. The price continued to soar even though Sam's Dodge Charger car had a Blue Book value of $12,500.

In a short YouTube video that captured the charity event, Tanner's once happy mood could be seen slowly becoming disappointed as the price kept rising. Eventually, it was sold at a winning bid of $60,000 to a rancher named Steve Wells.

To Tanner, it was heartbreaking as he had lost the last chance to get his father's car, but what he was about to experience would change his mood for the better. As soon as Wells got hold of the car keys, he handed them over to Tanner and said:

"Tanner, here's your car."

THE IMPACT OF WELLS' KINDNESS

Immediately, the young man was overwhelmed with emotions. He had never met Wells before the auction, and receiving such kindness from a stranger was everything.

"This is so huge. I mean, me and my dad built a fence and stuff, but having something I can use and drive around that he drove around, it just means a lot," Tanner said.

Wells' unforgettable gesture went beyond giving Tanner the car keys. He also declined an interview as he did not want to steal the late deputy's son's moment when he entered his father's car.

Following the auction, Tanner revealed that he would donate the money gotten from the GoFundMe to the Concerns Of Police Survivors (COPS).

This story is a reminder that the world is full of great people. It should motivate everyone to show kindness to people, as it can change someone's life. Share this story if you think the stranger did the right thing.