Man Injures Clerk in Shoplift Attempt

HOLLLISTER—The Hollister Police Department arrested 27-year-old Hollister resident Timothy Valencia after he shoplifted merchandise from the Rite Aid Store on Airline Highway.

Timothy Valencia

Around 8 p.m., dispatchers received a call from an employee at the at Rite Aid Store stating that a theft had just occurred.  The dispatcher heard a struggle in the background.

The caller stated that she had just been grabbed and pushed into a display in the store, which injured her. Valencia had left the store on foot.

Officer Bo Leland arrived at the store within three minutes of the call being reported.  He talked with the clerk and she described the incident to him.  She stated, that a man entered the store, concealed store property within his clothing and left the store without paying.  A store employee noticed this happening and decided to contact him.

As the employee questioned Valencia about the merchandise, he noticed that they were on the phone with police, so he violently grabbed the clerk and pushed her into a display in the front of the store.

“If he would have just shoplifted the merchandise it would have been only a misdemeanor,” Hollister Police Captain Carlos Reynoso said. “When he grabbed the clerk and pushed her into the display injuring her, it escalated to a felony.”

Officer Leland broadcasted Valencia’s description over the radio and a short time later Officer Luis Toribio located him a few blocks away.  After a short foot chase, both Officers Leland and Toribio took him into custody without further incident.

Witnesses have identified Valencia as the suspect in this case.  Valencia sits in San Benito County Jail on charges of robbery, vandalism and resisting arrest.  His bail has been set at $51,000.00 dollars.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact The Hollister Police Department at 1-831-636-4330.  Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at 800-78-CRIME.