Santa Ana police on Tuesday asked for the public’s help in identifying a man who was captured on camera throwing beer cans at a liquor store clerk during an attempted robbery late last month.
A man who allegedly tried to rob a liquor store on Nov. 25, 2017 is shown in a surveillance photo released by Santa Ana police on Dec. 12, 2017.
Surveillance video showed the man walking into the store along the 1200 block of West MacArthur Boulevard on Nov. 25 and chatting with the clerk before walking down the aisles.
The man appeared to ask clerk for assistance and eventually the two walk back to the register, and as the clerk checked the a 12 pack of beer, the man tried to grab items from the counter and a violent struggle ensued, the video shows.
The employee, Salame Sedre, told KTLA the assailant nervously asked for a bottle of Coke before requesting a 12-pack of Corona Extra, which he couldn't find.
Sedre left the register and walked to the refrigerators in the back of the store to get the beer. But he didn't give it to him right away because, he said, he felt something was wrong.
Instead, Sedre carried the beer back to the counter. It was at that point that the man snapped, according to the clerk.
"He hit me here on my shoulder ... I have like, black bruises from my legs here, and he broke all the whiskey and alcohol," Sedre said.
As the clerk tried to defend himself, the man appears to throw several beer cans at the clerk. The clerk then goes to the man and throws the items back at him before the man left the store, the video shows.
The man drove away from the area in a green SUV, police said.
Sedre was banged up and couldn't sleep for several days due to bruising, but said he was grateful he didn't lose his life over an $18 pack of beer.
The suspect is described as being about 35 years old, about 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds. Police said the man had tattoos on both sides of his neck and his right outer calf. He was wearing a black hoodie, and what appears to be a black and red Cincinnati Reds cap.
Anyone with information about the incident can call 714-245-8647.