Authorities said a man who recently committed a robbery spree involving three Oakland restaurants had been released from prison days earlier.
Cassave Taqueria’s owner shared surveillance footage of the violent robbery which showed a man jumping over a counter to chase after a female worker. The employees said the suspect attacked two female workers.
A cook, Santos Sanchez, who was cleaning in the back room, ran toward the man to push him away from the women. The footage showed the suspect punching Sanchez in the face during the struggle.
“If I touch it or if I push my cheek, it still kind of hurt,” said Sanchez.
Police said the taqueria was one of three restaurants the man robbed on the evening of July 5th. All of the robberies happened on San Pablo Avenue.
They said the man robbed a Papa John’s pizza restaurant. Employees shared a surveillance video of the suspect chasing and attacking a cashier. They said he demanded the workers their money. When the workers refused to hand over their wallets, they said he went to empty out the cash register.