James Goodman

@goodman_dandc

University of Rochester quarterback Dan Bronson proved he knows how to avoid tackles and do some tackling of his own.

On Nov. 5, Bronson turned in a stellar performance in a tough 37-34 loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He rushed for 192 yards and passed for another 195 yards at UR's Fauver Stadium.

However, his actions away from the field that day were equally impressive and not to be forgotten any time soon.

Even though he suffered a separated shoulder during the game, Bronson tackled a fleeing robber who had grabbed a purse from an elderly woman in the parking lot of Cammarata's Restaurant in Lockport.

Bronson is being honored Friday, along with the brother and father — Patrick Ellinger II and Patrick Ellinger — of his girlfriend, Kaleigh Ellinger, who is a student at St. John Fisher College. The brother and father helped in apprehending the suspect, after Bronson tackled him.

Following the game, Bronson, a 21-year-old junior from Lockport majoring in microbiology, went out to dinner at Cammarata's with the Ellinger family in their hometown of Lockport.

When Bronson left the restaurant about 9 p.m., he saw a man walk past him toward the restaurant.

"I looked over my shoulder and saw the guy yank the purse from an elderly woman who had just walked out. She screamed, 'Help! Help!' " said Bronson.

His reaction was instinctual.

"I was shocked for a second and then took off after him," said Bronson. "He ran toward the trailer park behind the restaurant."

Bronson caught up with the fleeing suspect after a chase of about 100 yards. By then, the man had dropped the purse on the ground.

"I jumped on his back and tackled him. I put him in a chokehold," said Bronson.

Both Ellinger men had joined in the chase and helped hold the suspect's arms down until State Police arrived. Bronson called 911.

Bronson, who is 6-feet and 190 pounds, said the man was smaller than he was, but was "extremely strong when we tried to hold him down."

The suspect, Matthew Biles, 31, of Lockport, has been charged with third-degree robbery for the Nov. 5 incident, according to the Buffalo News.

And, the News reported, Biles has also been charged with first-degree robbery for pushing an 87-year-old woman down the night before while allegedly robbing her of her purse in the same restaurant's parking lot. The woman suffered a broken arm and a possible fractured nose and multiple abrasions.

Bronson said the woman he helped on Nov. 5 was very thankful and the granddaughter of the victim in the first incident thanked him on Facebook.

"I was just trying to help someone who could not help herself," he said.

JGOODMAN@Gannett.com