CAMAS, Wash. -- A 66-year-old woman wrestled a robber to the ground Wednesday, giving police time to arrive on scene and take him into custody, police said.

Mary Chamberlain, of Camas, 66, chased down Joshua Crowley, 22, of Washougal, after being given a description by a Kentucky Fried Chicken clerk, who had just been robbed at knifepoint, said Mitch Lackey of the Camas Police Department.

“He had one hand free; he was able to open up the gate. I was able to hang onto the other hand… I just kept getting tighter and tighter around his neck. About that time, the policeman came around the corner and yelled “Get on your knees!” Chamberlain said.

Police said the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was robbed by Crowley, who displayed a knife and demanded money from a female clerk, at 3:12 p.m. Wednesday. After being given an undisclosed amount of cash, Crowley fled the store on foot, Lackey said.

The clerk who was robbed immediately called 911 to report the robbery and alerted the manager. The manager ran outside and spotted the robber running away from the restaurant, he said.

She then alerted a customer who was in the drive up lane and another car that was passing by that the business had been robbed and pointed out the suspect, Lackey said. The manager and other witnesses started to give chase.

Officers from Camas Police Department, Washougal Police Department and Clark County Sheriff's Office began to arrive in the area and search for the robber, he said.

Chamberlain, who was one of the witnesses that had been driving past the restaurant when the manager came running out, and her passenger, Sophia Morrow, followed the robber in the car Chamberlain was driving. Chamberlain let Morrow out on foot and drove around the block, where she spotted Crowley, he said.

Chamberlain then physically engaged Crowley and the two wrestled on the ground as she attempted to detain him. Two Camas officers arrived almost immediately and took the suspect into custody, Lackey said.

Crowley was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery four minutes after the initial 911 call was placed, he said.

Officers recovered the stolen cash and the weapon in Crowley's possession when he was taken into custody, Lackey said. A wig and hat were also recovered in a nearby garbage can.

At 9 p.m. Wednesday, Crowley was still being interviewed by Camas detectives assigned to the case.

Although responding officers credited Chamberlain's involvement as a key to such a quick arrest, and praised her bravery, police advise against such actions.

No one was injured in the robbery.