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Komenich told the paper he was waiting in a line at the Wells Fargo at San Fernando and Market streets on Monday when the two robbers walked inside.
According to the Spartan:
"The guy next to me starts having what I thought was a normal transaction with the teller, and then his voice went up and I started paying attention to him and it was 'Give me your money,'" Komenich said. "I looked down and he had a note too, a note that says, 'I have a gun, give me your money' on a Wells Fargo deposit slip."
Komenich said he didn't notice a gun, but as the man went for his pocket, Komenich proceeded to restrain him. "I figured if he did have a gun that's where there was going to be a gun," Komenich said. "So I clamped a big bear hug on him from behind and held him."
The man, who Komenich said was in his 40s or 50s, didn't resist until the police arrived.
"It took a few minutes for the police to arrive and then two officers showed up immediately and then I let go of him and they immediately put handcuffs on him as I let go," he said.
Komenich was awarded the 1987 Pulitzer Prize in Spot News Photography for photographs of the Philippine Revolution he made while on assignment for the Examiner.
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He was a photographer at the Chron from 2000 to 2009. He is now as assistant professor of new media at San Jose State. (Photo credit: SJSU)
Pulitzer winner restrains bank robber in San Jose
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