Mass. man uses fake leg to take down armed robber

[May 10, 2011]  MIDDLETON, Mass. (AP) -- A Massachusetts man who used his prosthetic leg to take down a robber says he didn't have time to think, he just reacted.

Stephen Cornell peered through the window of his neighborhood convenience store in Middleton on Wednesday and saw a man pointing a gun at the owner.

He tells The Salem News he intended to tackle the thief when he left JC Grill & Pizza, but instead stuck out his artificial leg and tripped him.

Cornell and owner Edson Andrade disarmed the thief and dragged him back into the store in a chokehold before calling police. The weapon was a pellet gun.

The 55-year-old Cornell lost his leg at age 12.

The suspect, 23-year-old Eric Homen, pleaded not guilty to charges including armed robbery.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.