Syracuse, NY -- A Carousel Center store manager is missing a tooth after he was punched in the face last weekend while trying to stop a robbery near his store, police said. Two women wanted in the robbery have not yet been identified, according to the police report. Here’s what Syracuse police said happened: An employee at Zumiez, Sarah Bechaz,...
Syracuse, NY -- A Carousel Center store manager is missing a tooth after he was punched in the face last weekend while trying to stop a robbery near his store, police said.
Two women wanted in the robbery have not yet been identified, according to the police report.
Here’s what Syracuse police said happened:
An employee at Zumiez, Sarah Bechaz, saw two women trying to leave the store at 2:35 p.m. Saturday with stolen merchandise. The store alarm went off, and Bechaz approached the women to check their bags. The women handed Bechaz one of their bags and walked out.
Bechaz followed the women toward a mall exit. The manager of Spencer’s Gifts joined her. Both stores are located on the mall's Lower Level.
The Spencer’s Gifts manager, Mike Slomski, 29, of Auburn, caught up to the suspects and stood in front of them.
One of them, described as 5 feet, 8 inches, 140 pounds with black, stringy hair, pushed him. Slomski pushed back.
The suspect then punched Slomski on the right side of his face, knocking out one of his back teeth.
The two suspects left the mall and got inside a blue 2004 Ford Freestar with two other people inside.
In the suspects’ bag, Bechaz found two white LRG T-shirts valued at $52. Bechaz believed that nothing else was stolen.
The second suspect was described as 5 foot 10 inches tall, 130 pounds with black braided hair and wearing a Hollister T-shirt and sandals.
The suspect’s car was registered to someone at 600 S. Wilbur Ave. The two women were not found.
Fernando Alfonso III can be reached at falfonso@syracuse.com or 470- 6078.