Church worker grabs man's falling pants to stop robbery

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A robbery, bizarre take down and arrest happened in a quiet shrine courtyard in broad daylight Wednesday.

Thousands of visitors and tourists flock to the Mary Queen of the Universe Catholic Shrine every week.

Authorities said Anthony Garcia came to the shrine, too, but with more sinister intentions Wednesday.

Just before 2 p.m., deputies said Garcia walked into the shrine's gift shop, demanded cash, became impatient and grabbed the entire cash drawer and ran off.

Authorities said Garcia actually was there praying before the robbery.

A maintenance worker took off after him and made a quick, unexpected move.

"He notices the suspect's pants start to fall down. So he figures 'here's my opening.' So he reaches, manages to catch him by the pants, pull the pants down and wrestling him down and hold him till we can get there," Jane Watrel, Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said.

When those deputies arrived, they also found the alleged robber's wife on scene.

Deputies said the wife had nothing to do with the robbery, and even tried to stop her husband when she realized what he was doing.

Detectives said they aren't sure why Garcia targeted the sacred spot, but the fast-thinking church worker was able to bring him down.

"Had he had a belt, this may have been a different outcome," Watrel said.

WFTV