2 Visalia teens arrested after a foiled beer run

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police in the South Valley say they foiled a beer run after two teens were arrested for injuring a store clerk with a butcher knife.

It happened on Wednesday at the Chevron gas station on Mineral King Avenue and Bridge Street in Visalia. The teens almost got away with it. They took off with the beer, but they were on foot, and police caught up with them, just two blocks away.

The store clerk, who didn't want to appear on camera, said the teens walked in at the end of his shift. One of them, a 16-year-old girl, grabbed two twelve packs of Budwieser. He tried to stop her, but the other teen, a 17-year-old boy stepped in. At that point, the clerk says the 17-year-old pulled out a butcher knife, there was a struggle between the two of them, and the clerk cut his hand trying to get a hold of the knife. That's when the teenagers took off with the beer.

People outside watched them run away. "A girl run out with two twelve packs, and the other guy came running out with a big 'ol knife, they grabbed the beer and walked down the street," said Phillip Suzor, witness.

Police then spotted them about two blocks away with the beer and the knife. They were arrested and booked on robbery and assault charges.

Sergeant Damon Maurice says it's a common crime, but this one was a little different. "The clerk chose to intervene and stop that action and as a result, became involved with a struggle."