Crime Law

Enraged beer theft suspect rams minimart, uproots gas pump

KING COUNTY, Wash. — A man rammed a White Center convenience store with his car after a beer theft escalated into a confrontation with the store’s owner.

The owner of the Top Hat Mini Mart at 1st Avenue South and Southwest 108th Street said the incident started sometime before 10 p.m. on Sunday when a man came into his store and tried to steal a 24-pack of beer.

The owner went outside and confronted the man, and a fight broke out, police said.

The dispute escalated to the point where the man got into his car and rammed the store twice, also backing over and uprooting a gas pump, police said.

Store owner Cesar Silva said his fiancée narrowly escaped injury.

“The last time he went for the door.  He went directly for her. She managed to get away. Lucky for him, she's still here,” said Silva.

During the attack, the man’s vehicle became stuck on debris and police arrived and took him into custody.

The owner said he'd just spent a year remodeling the store and its front entrance.