The officer had just arrived at Milk restaurant Friday night when he heard a commotion in the kitchen.
Through a window he saw a suspect holding workers at bay with a knife. That's when he took action.
"I drew my off-duty weapon and went inside the kitchen, identified myself, gave him orders," said LAPD Officer Joseph Jarrett. "He dropped the knife immediately, and then just kind of held him until an on-duty unit could show up."
Jarrett says if you ever experience a similar scene, don't intervene, but call police.
