LYNN, Mass. — Azhar Ali says a man walked into his convenience store Wednesday evening demanding his hard-earned money.
“I stand on my feet for 10 hours I work hard I won't give him money like that,” said Ali. "He just bring the knife here and tried to put me here and so I said "what's up?" And he said open the drawer, open the drawer."
Surveillance video from the Lynn Mart shows Ali wasn't letting the man, identified as 41-year-old Joel Peralta of Beverly, get away.
He struggles with him, at points you can see him grabbing the man's arm that's holding the knife. He pushes the would-be robber out of his store and onto Market Street.
“First, I was confused then I said, "you know what, I'm not going to give him money,” said Ali.
A woman, 45-year-old Tanya Hernandez whom Ali says is Peralta’s girlfriend, ran up and grabbed the knife and threw it into a trash can.
Ali held him down until police came.
"If I didn't hold him like that he would probably get up and stab me anywhere,” said Ali.
Peralta was arrested and charged with attempt to commit a crime, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and Class E drug possession. Hernandez was also arrested and charged with attempt to commit a crime, as well as on a warrant for larceny from a building.