A homeless man was arrested late Saturday night after a brutal assault and robbery at a local 7-Eleven store, according to Falls Township police.
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Officers were dispatched to the convenience store located at the intersection of Trenton Road and North Oxford Valley Road at approximately 10:17 p.m. following reports of a robbery in progress. Upon arrival, officers encountered the store clerk, who had difficulty communicating in English, prompting the wait for the store owner to arrive to translate. police said.
The clerk was crying, shaking, and had injuries on her face when officers arrived, police said.
The clerk identified the alleged attacker as 46-year-old Rafael Perez, who initially entered the store seeking assistance with a case of water, police said.
Credit: Falls Township police
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After helping Perez with the water, the clerk reported that he locked her inside the store with him, police said.
Perez then assaulted her with the handle of a mop, punching her numerous times, police said.
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As the attack continued, Perez jabbed her in the stomach with the mop pole and struck her in the head with a mop bucket, police said.
Law enforcement noted that the clerk is approximately 5-foot-3 and weighs under 110 pounds, while her alleged attacker is 6-foot-1 and weighs 155 pounds.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the officers showed Perez dragging the clerk around the store before taking her to the back, where he continued the assault, police said.
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Perez returned to the scene while officers were conducting their investigation and was taken into custody, police said.
The defendant was positively identified by the victim and witnesses present during the incident, according to court papers.
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After the attack, there was damage throughout the store and the owner estimated it to be more than $500, police said.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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