Robber Attacks Clerk over $17 Worth of Rum

Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives are looking for a man who stole $17 worth of rum and knocked down a store clerk on the Fourth of July.

Detectives say a clerk noticed a white man wearing a blue ballcap, a black tank top and khaki shorts walking around the aisles holding a blue shirt. He briefly disappeared from view. He reappeared as he walked toward the exit. The clerk noticed he had wrapped two bottles of RonDiaz Rum in the blue shirt, according to detectives. She asked if he intended to pay and the man continued toward the exit.

The clerk followed the man outside as he cut through the parking lot toward Main Street on foot. He told the clerk to get away from him as she grew near, according to detectives. She tried to pull the T-shirt away from him when he spun around, struck the clerk’s upper body and knocked her to the ground, according to detectives.

The clerk held on to the shirt, causing the liquor bottles to fall to the ground, according to detectives.

The man fled on foot.

The clerk recovered the shirt and liquor bottles before returning to work, according to detectives. She was treated for minor scrapes.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying the man. They say he is about 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, with a medium muscular build. He also appeared to have a partial beard and a tattoo on his left bicep.

The two bottles of rum cost $17.10, including tax, according to detectives.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.