Violent Attack Of Beer Store Employee Caught On Tape
By Steve Beck, Robin Culverwell
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia police are searching for a suspect who was caught on tape violently assaulting an employee inside a craft beer store.
The assault happened at about 7:30 p.m. on March 31st inside the Beer Heaven craft beer store at 1100 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard near Penn's Landing.
According to investigators, the suspect entered the store and became involved in a dispute with the employee over a previous purchase.
The suspect's temper began to flare and at one point, he grabbed a beer bottle and acted as if he was going to throw the bottle at the employee.
The suspect's female companion was able to wrestle the suspect out of the store. However, moments later, the suspect came storming back in and grabbed a beer bottle and this time he launched it at the employee.
The employee leaped over the counter and tried to confront the suspect, but he was pushed to the ground by the suspect. While on the ground, the suspect kicked the employee several times and even pulled out a handgun, which he did not fire.
WATCH THE VIDEO (Courtesy: Philadelphia Police Department)
"The man then pulled out a black automatic handgun, however the female that was with him managed to push him out of the store, preventing any further assault with that handgun," says police lieutenant John Stanford.
The clerk is physically okay. Stanford says the message is obvious here.
"You allow your anger to get the best of you at a moment like this and it can be something that can change several lives," he says.
The suspect is described as a black male, between 6'3"-6'5" and approximately 300 lbs. He was wearing a blue and grey Dallas Cowboys jacket, with dark pants and a white Polo shirt.
Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call 911 or 215.686.TIPS (8477).
