Falls Township, Pennsylvania – A homeless man was taken into custody late Saturday night following a vicious assault and robbery at a local 7-Eleven store, as reported by Falls Township police.
Law enforcement responded to the convenience store situated at the corner of Trenton Road and North Oxford Valley Road around 10:17 p.m. after receiving reports of an ongoing robbery. Upon arrival, officers encountered the store clerk, who had trouble communicating in English, prompting them to wait for the store owner to assist with translation, according to police.
The clerk, visibly shaken with facial injuries, identified the alleged assailant as 46-year-old Rafael Perez, who initially entered the store seeking help with a case of water, police detailed.
Following assistance with the water, the clerk recounted being locked inside the store with Perez, who proceeded to assault her with a mop handle, punching her multiple times, authorities said.
As the brutal attack unfolded, Perez reportedly used the mop pole to strike the clerk in the stomach and hit her in the head with a mop bucket, police disclosed.
Surveillance footage reviewed by officers showed Perez dragging the clerk around the store before continuing the assault in the back area, law enforcement said.
Perez later returned to the scene while officers were investigating and was subsequently arrested. The victim and witnesses positively identified the suspect during the incident, court documents confirmed.
After the incident, extensive damage was discovered throughout the store, with the owner estimating the cost to be in excess of $500, police reported. All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty, the report noted.
It is important to note that any updates or additional information regarding the case will be provided as it becomes available.