SANFORD, Fla. – As Trayvon Martin's supporters continue to seek the arrest of George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed the teen, a former neighbor said Zimmerman came to her aide after her home was burglarized.
Olivia Bertalan told Local 6 her family moved from Zimmerman's Sanford neighborhood because crime at the Retreat at Twin Lakes subdivision grew out of control. She said Zimmerman made people there feel safe.
Last August, when burglars tore through Bertalan's house, the stay-at-home mom locked herself and her baby in a room. Police were right around the corner, and so was her neighbor, Zimmerman, who came to offer his help later that day.
"Just basically seeing how we were doing," said said of Zimmerman. "Was very very kind. Very gentle and very sweet."
When her house was robbed, she said the subdivision did not have an active neighborhood watch, but soon after, she said Zimmerman led the charge to form the program and volunteered as its captain.
Bertalan said she did not know Zimmerman carried a gun while on patrol, but when asked how she felt now knowing that he did, she said, "He was a volunteer. I think anyone can carry a gun. There was no rules to say that he couldn't carry a gun. In fact, I think it's probably more secure, because who knows what could have happened? I mean, these break-ins were rampant in our neighborhood."
She paints Zimmerman as caring -- a concerned neighbor watching out for others --- not the vigilante killer depicted by Trayvon Martin's supporters.
"I would never guess that he was racist or violent in any way. We've had many conversations about the constant break-ins going on and he has never ever mentioned color in a negative way, ever," said Bertalan, who truly believes Zimmerman is devastated by what happened.
Martin, 17, was shot to death last month after returning from a store to his father's fiancee's home in Sanford. Zimmerman, 28, claims the shooting was self-defense.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.