By Mary O’KEEFE

Glendale police responded to a call concerning a robbery in progress at Vons Market in the 3200 block of Foothill Boulevard on Sunday at 6:34 p.m. When officers arrived the suspect had fled. The Vons employee told officers that he had witnessed a man, described as Hispanic in his 20s, about 6’ tall and weighing about 220 pounds, place two bottles of liquor in the satchel he carried over his shoulder.

The employee told the suspect to put the bottles back on the shelf and the man reportedly began yelling obscenities at the employee, said Tahnee Lightfoot, GPD spokeswoman. The suspect then grabbed more liquor bottles from the shelf and walked out of the store without attempting to pay for the items.

The employee followed the suspect into the driveway and told him to put the bottles on the ground that he had stolen. Once again, the suspect began yelling obscenities at the employee. The suspect then pulled out a stolen liquor bottle and began hitting the employee with it. He struck the employee on the hands and arms several times as the employee tried to defend her/himself. The suspect also struck the employee on the head. The suspect, according to witnesses, also threw some of the stolen bottles on the ground, shattering them.

A minivan driven by a woman, described as a female Hispanic in her 40s, pulled up near the suspect who got into the vehicle. Witnesses stated the minivan had several passengers including a young girl who appeared to be about 8 years old. The van then fled the parking lot heading west on Foothill Boulevard. The minivan was described as a beige colored, “beat up” older model van.

The employee refused to be transported to the hospital; the injuries were not life threatening.

Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to contact Glendale police at (818) 548-4911.

  Mary Okeefe