A shoplifting pursuit gone bad

April 29, 2008
Grocery employee dragged through parking lot after pursuing shoplifters

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso police are reviewing surveillance video from the Albertsons store at 9111 Dyer Street in northeast El Paso. Cameras inside the store and parking lot captured the moment an employee was dragged about 150 feet across the parking lot.

"He had his hand inside the truck, and the lady took off driving and Mando was still hanging off the truck," said Johnny Alcanta, an Albertsons Employee who saw the incident.

The unexpected ride around the Albertsons parking lot happened at 11 p.m. Monday.

Police said the employee was trying to stop a couple from shoplifting and chased them to the parking. Witnesses said the couple tossed several meat packages as they ran to their vehicle. Police said the employee stuck his hand inside the SUV and the woman rolled up the window and took off.

"He was hanging off the car with his arm, and I guess his foot was dragging, but he was alright. He had a few little scratches," said Alcanta.

Police describe the couple as a black woman and white man. They were last seen driving a red Lincoln SUV.

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