A 76-year-old woman with dementia was saved by a brave restaurant owner in Melbourne after she was allegedly threatened by a man with a power saw.
Salvatore Micale, the owner of St Domenico Pizza Bar on Bridge Road in Richmond, put the alleged offender under citizen’s arrest on Friday until police arrived.
The woman had gone into Mr Micale’s restaurant seeking help after being allegedly stalked by the man, who was holding the power tool in his hand.
“She came into my arms because she knows me, and she asked for help, pretty much,” Mr Micale told 7 News.
“She was crying and all the patrons, they just left scared and frightened.”
The scene caused customers, including children, who were enjoying dinner, to flee the restaurant.
Mr Micale said it was like something out of a horror movie.
“One of those horror movies in which you see people chasing with a chainsaw,” Mr Micale said.
Once the patrons had left, Mr Micale and another customer convinced the man to turn the power saw off and put it on the ground.
Mr Micale then held the alleged offender in the citizen’s arrest, with the man’s mother trying to intervene later while police were arresting him.
“His face (the alleged offender) was completely transformed. I think he was taken by anger,” Mr Micale said.
“It was a moment you will never forget.”
The 47-year-old man, who lives nearby, has been charged with a variety of offences including reckless conduct endangering life and assault with a weapon.
The 76-year-old woman suffered no physical injuries.
