Off-duty heroics to protect and serve

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Mount Holly Detective is being praised for his actions off the clock.

Detective Nicholas Lalena was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal Monday evening.

He was shopping on March 2nd when he noticed a trio of suspicious men fleeing a Wells Fargo bank.

Lalena contacted dispatchers, gave a description and the three were arrested.

Investigators say they were running a scam involving fraudulent checks