Police are searching for two men caught on surveillance video Dec. 28 attacking a Circle K Market clerk who asked whether one of the men, who sought to purchase beer, was underage.
One of the suspects allegedly entered the Circle K at about 11 p.m. and selected an 18-pack of beer to purchase at the front of the store, according to the Garden Grove Police Department. When the store clerk questioned the suspect on whether he was underage, the second suspect approached the two.
The two men then began to attack the clerk, according to Garden Grove police.
A customer who witnessed the attack approached to help the suspect and was assaulted by the two men as well, police said. That customer, who spoke with detectives Friday, was identified as 22-year-old Alex Ruiz (pictured, right).
"As soon as you recognize that there's a threat to somebody, in whatever kind of environment. It's either fight or flight," said Ruiz. "I just chose to fight."
The most difficult part, he said, was watching the other suspect use his fists to pound on the clerk who was still inside the store.
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"I didn't know if this guy had a weapon. I couldn't exactly let him up, so as I was holding him, and restraining him I had to watch the other assailant just take his time with the guy," said Ruiz. "It was pretty bad."
The incident was documented on the store’s surveillance camera, before the two suspects fled the scene.
The first suspect (left, below) was described as a tanned skin male with dark hair, 5-foot-6, weighing 140 pounds.
He was thought to be between 17 and 20 years of age and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black shorts.
The second suspect (right, below) was described as a possibly Hispanic man with dark hair, 5-foot-7, weighing 150 pounds.
He is believed to be around the same age as the first suspect and was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Anyone with information is asked to call 714-741-5827.
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