Fall River Martial Artist Helps Thwart Robbery In California

BOSTON (CBS) - A Fall River man helped thwart a robbery while vacationing in California earlier this month.

Seiha Hak, 39, was in Long Beach to visit friends on July 16 when they heard commotion at a nearby jewelry store.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Laurie Kirby reports

Hak and his two friends, who are all experienced martial artists, then entered the store and confronted a suspect armed with a gun.

"He didn't try to shoot, he had his gun in his hand," Hak told CBS Los Angeles.

The suspect was struggling with the store owner at the time, according to the Fall River Herald News.

"When I went in, there was a piece of wood on the floor, a two-by-four or a table leg," Hak told the paper. "I picked it up and hit him (the robber) on the back of the knee. That put him on the ground.

"Then I put him in the arm bar," Hak continued. "I kept him in that position until the police arrived. By then, he had no gun. Somehow, the gun dropped."

Two other men involved in the robbery escaped.