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Officials: Mail carrier helped save child, elderly couple from con artists

SOUTH DAYTONA, Fla. — A South Daytona mail carrier was recognized in Washington, D.C. as a hero Thursday.

Pam Pontius was named a regional hero by the country's largest Postal Service union.

Authorities said Pontius helped rescue a child and protect an elderly couple from suspected con artists.

"I love my job. I love my people on my route. I just did my job," said Pontius.

When Pontius noticed a suspicious looking van on her route, she called police.

Authorities said a couple in the van was knocking on doors to offer a cleaning service to residents. Investigators said they also discovered the couple had active warrants for alleged sexual battery on a child.

The couple's 12-year-old child was also in the van, and Pontius' intervention helped reunite the child with her grandparents.