NEW ORLEANS, March 21 (UPI) -- An 18-year-old man who helped foil a robbery during his job interview at a Popeyes eatery in New Orleans was rewarded with employment.

Danyanna Metoyer, assistant manager at the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen location, said a man came into the store Saturday and asked the cashier to give him change for a dollar.


The man reached into the register while it was open and grabbed a handful of cash before running for the door, Metoyer said.

The assistant manager grabbed the man by the arm and soon received unexpected reinforcements from Devin Washington, 18, who was interviewing for a job at the eatery at the time of the incident.

"The interviewee took him off of me and held him with another employee until the police showed up," Metoyer told CNN. "I was like, 'This can't be real.' It was the first time I had ever seen this."

Metoyer said Washington was also "in disbelief" at the unfolding of events.

The suspect, Pablo Ciscart, 50, was arrested on charges of simple robbery and fugitive attachment. Police said he was wanted on an arrest warrant from St. Bernard Parish stemming from a similar incident.

Metoyer said Washington got the job. She said he likely would have been hired even without the robbery assist, but his fast-acting heroism certainly didn't hurt.

"Devin was considered for being hired before this even happened. He helped us," she said.