Man sought for robbery and assault of a senior in Pasadena

A 68-year-old Pasadena store clerk had his face pummeled when he tried to stop two men from leaving the business with merchandise they hadn’t purchased, police reported today. The strong-arm robbery and assault happened about 11:50 p.m. Saturday at a store in the 1300 block of North Lake Avenue, according to Pasadena police Lt. Mark Goodman. Two men entered the store and selected some items for purchase and approached the cash register. But when a debit card presented for the purchase was declined, one of them collected the goods and headed for the exit, Goodman said. When the clerk tried to stop him, the man delivered punches to the man’s face, then fled the scene on foot along with his companion, according to the lieutenant. The clerk was taken to a hospital for treatment and has since been released, Goodman said. The suspect who punched him was described as a black man in his 20s, 5 feet 8 inches tall and around 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He wore a blue-and-white hoodie, jeans and white tennis shoes. The second man, also black, was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160-170 pounds, with black hair. He wore a baseball cap and a black sweater, both with white lettering, blue jeans and tennis shoes. Anyone with information about the suspects was urged to call Pasadena police at (626) 744-4620.