Linda convenience store clerk tries to stop suspected thief, beaten

A Linda gas station clerk was beaten Thursday after authorities said he tried to make a suspected thief pay for the beer he carried away.

Bart Warren took four large cans of beer from the cooler around 5:20 p.m. and walked out of the front door of the Full Stop gas station at North Beale Road and Hammonton-Smartsville Road, the Yuba County Sheriff's Department said.

The clerk chased after the man and confronted him outside, Deputy Karen Howard said.

"The suspect put the beers down and proceeded to punch the victim," Howard said.

The clerk was slugged in the face multiple times before a passing witness pulled the attacker off the clerk. No weapons were involved.

Warren, 52, ran away heading east, Howard said.

Deputies found him a short time later hiding in a trailer with the beer at 1699 Hammonton-Smartsville Road.

The clerk received minor facial cuts and bruises and declined medical treatment, deputies said.

Store owner Abdul Hussein said the clerk was not injured.

Warren was booked into the Yuba County Jail in connection with the suspected strong-armed robbery, though charges were still undetermined Thursday night.

Deputies said Warren has a prior criminal record and is well known to law enforcement. His criminal record was not available Thursday.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.