Martial arts competitors foil LA robbery

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Los Angeles police tipped their hats to martial arts experts from Oregon who foiled an attempted stickup at their motel.

Billy Denney and Brent Alvarez, both of Eugene, Ore., were in Southern California for a jujitsu tournament and came upon an alleged holdup at the front desk of their motel.

Even though the suspect allegedly had a gun, the Oregonians set down their bags and quickly apprehended him as he tried to leave.

"During the tussle with the suspect, the Good Samaritans repeatedly asked him to drop the gun and stop struggling," police said in a written statement. "The pair was finally able to wrestle the gun from the suspect and took him to the ground with a leg sweep and then held him on the ground until Rampart Division officers arrived."

The Los Angeles Times said the LAPD was impressed enough to post a video from the hotel security camera on the department's Web site.