HICKORY — A marriage proposal in Hickory was postponed after police said a man tried to rob a popular restaurant Monday night.
The future groom sprang into action to help an employee stop the robber as he tried to get away.
Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty found out how that suspect is linked to two other cases at the same restaurant.
An employee, a customer and an off-duty police officer helped make the arrest.
The customer was getting ready to pop the question to his girlfriend when he noticed something wrong.
"I just grabbed him by the neck," Nick Anderson said.
He said grabbed the robber as he tried to run from the Salsarita's restaurant. At the time, he could see an employee chasing someone and then try to lock the door.
"I didn't really know he was trying to rob the place," Anderson said. "I just knew he had gotten physical with the guy in the restaurant and the guy that worked there needed help."
Off-duty Hickory police Officer David Freeman also spotted the commotion and rushed to help.
"I felt like I needed to do something," Freeman said. "I was there. I saw something happen. I wasn't sure what was happening at the time but I figured I should step in and do something."
Graham Kiziah, 26, was charged with common-law robbery and two counts of robbery with a firearm.
Police said they have linked him to two other robberies at the restaurant earlier this month.
Anderson doesn't consider himself a hero.
"No I just think I am supposed to do the right thing for the right reason and at the end of the day when I lay down at night I think I did the best I could," Anderson said.
The robbery didn't stop him from proposing to his girlfriend. They went to a park later where he proposed to her.
"I still got it done last night and she said, 'Yes,'" he said.
The police chief said he is thankful for all the help they got but added he wants people to be careful about taking action because someone could get hurt.
WSOC
