Caught on Camera: Failed Beer Run-Turned-Robbery in Santa Ana

A customer called 911 as the clerk became the center of a brawl, which the victim said lasted three painful minutes.

A 22-year-old man is wanted in connection with the caught-on-camera beating of a gas station clerk who refused to sell him and a friend beer after 2 a.m., police in Santa Ana said Friday.

The attack happened Feb. 2 at an Arco gas station at 302 West First Street in Santa Ana, police said Friday.

Marcos Soriano was working at the station’s AM/PM when two men came in about 5:20 a.m. and wanted to buy beer. It is illegal to sell alcohol between 2 and 6 a.m., so Soriano refused.

Surveillance footage shows the clerk leading the men outside of the store, and the two suspects try to get back in. Moments later, the pair attacked Soriano, who was struck on the head and kicked in the ribs.

A customer called 911 as Soriano became the center of the brawl, which the clerk said lasted three painful minutes.

When police arrived, they arrested 22-year-old Luis Torralva. Investigators are still looking for 23-year-old Jesus Fuentes, pictured below, who police said has an outstanding warrant for his arrest on an unrelated case.

"We know he’s in the area,"

Fuentes allegedly stole from the gas station then fled the scene in a new black Nissan Versa hatchback driven by an unknown female, police said.

Soriano, who was back at work on Friday, said the assault left him bruised and in some ways grateful that the suspects used their fists and no other weapons.

Anyone with information in the case is urged to call Detective Silva at the Santa Ana Police Department.

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