Police Searching For Man Who Viciously Beat Family Dollar Cashier
NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) -- Police are having a hard time identifying a suspect seen in surveillance video from an attempted robbery in North Versailles.
"This is a violent person that should not be in society," North Versailles K-9 Police Officer Norm Locke said.
The video is hard to watch, but it's something North Versailles K-9 Officer Norm Locke said must be shown to the public so the perpetrator can be caught.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday.
In the video police released Saturday, the suspect can be seen walking through the doors of the Family Dollar in the Greater Valley Shopping Center off Route 30.
He appears back on screen at the cash register with a can of Pringles.
"As soon as she starts to conduct the transaction, he comes around behind her. He's telling her to open the register," Locke said.
The 68-year-old woman working the register couldn't get it open.
The suspect, who police say was not armed, is then seen wrapping his arms around her neck and shoulder. He pulls her to the ground and kicks her multiple times before running away.
Police release surveillance vid from attempted robbery @ N. Versailles Family Dollar.Police need help ID'ing suspect in brutal beating #KDKA pic.twitter.com/VcJQomcQX3
— Amy Wadas (@AmyWadas) March 25, 2017
Police said the victim had some bruising on her right lung and was released from the hospital on Saturday.
"Terrible. Terrible. Why would they do that," Assistant Manager of Family Dollar in North Versailles Craig Haywood said.
Haywood told KDKA the employee has been working at this location for a few months.
"She's a good friend. She's a friend of ours here at Family Dollar," Haywood said. "I just look at it and tomorrow in church they're gonna ask us for prayer requests and I gotta put her in. Because she's a co-worker. We need her."
Until he gets her back, he's asking for one thing:
"Just turn yourself in and let's move on with our lives so we don't have to worry about it each and every day."
Haywood said it's unclear if the employee will return to work. He said she took a leave of absence.
Police say the suspect is African-American. Based on witness accounts, police believe he's between the ages of 40 and 50, about 5-feet-8-inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a red and black flannel coat or shirt that was hanging open, a black tossle hat and gray baggy sweatpants.
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Anyone with information on the incident or suspect should call (412)-823-1111.
KDKA's Amy Wadas reached out to the victim's family, but they declined an interview.