Sandwich maker honored for apprehending Elk Grove robber

Sam Watkins was cleaning up and getting ready to close the Jersey Mike's sandwich shop in Elk Grove Village for the night.

It was the evening before Thanksgiving, and Watkins and his girlfriend were looking forward to spending the holiday with his mother in St. Louis.

That's when Watkins, 29, the store's assistant manager, heard a familiar voice in the back of the shop, threatening to shoot if he didn't turn over money from the store's safe.

“He was wearing a mask but I could tell it was him. I worked with him for four or five months. You'd recognize his voice. I knew who he was as soon as he told me to 'get the money out the (expletive) safe.'”

Then something caused Watkins to snap. Maybe because he was thinking of his co-worker, or the store's patrons. Or his girlfriend, waiting for him in the front of the store.

He lunged for the gun, trying to knock it out of the robber's hand, and wrestled with the man until he was able to get the suspect on the ground in a chokehold.

“I have no idea what I was thinking,” Watkins said. “(The gun) was there, I saw him, and I just went for it.”

Police arrived minutes later and arrested 20-year-old Vincent Calsadillas, who was charged with armed robbery. Calsadillas, a former store employee, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty.

Watkins was recently awarded a certificate by the Elk Grove Village Police Department for “quick and decisive actions” that authorities say helped protect those in the store from potential violence.

“This is really an exceptional action by this person showing that he cared more about the employees in the store and the customers than he did of himself,” said police Chief Stephen Schmidt. “I think it's very heroic actions by this young man.”

Watkins, fearing that he could be shot, said he tried to keep the gun between himself and Calsadillas as they fought on the floor so that Calsadillas, too, would be fearful of the gun being triggered. After three minutes, Watkins, a one-time high school wrestler in downstate Edwardsville, gained control, and restrained Calsadillas until police arrived. No shots were fired. Watkins said he suffered a cut on his hand.

Watkins said he once had a gun pulled on him when he lived downstate, but that time he ran away.

“I've lived in East St. Louis before and seen some stuff. But I never would have thought that would have happened to me in Elk Grove.”

After a long night and early morning at the police station, Watkins and his girlfriend eventually made it to St. Louis by Thanksgiving night. It was the last Thanksgiving he'd spend with his mother, who died weeks later after a long battle with cancer.

Watkins moved to Elgin to be with his girlfriend and has been working at Jersey Mike's for two years in-between classes at Elgin Community College.

He said he couldn't believe it when an Elk Grove police officer came into Jersey Mike's to tell him he would be recognized at a village board meeting.

“I'm happy that I got the award,” Watkins said. “It's just surreal.”