73-year-old employee attacked during robbery at gas station in Rochester

ROCHESTER, MN (KROC-AM News) – Police are investigating an assault and robbery reported at a gas station in Rochester early Tuesday morning.

Amanda Grayson, communications coordinator for the Rochester Police Department, said officers responded to the incident at the supermarket around 4 a.m

The employee who said he was attacked during the alleged robbery is 73 years old.

Rochester police are searching for robbery and assault suspects

The reported assault and robbery occurred at the Circle K gas station at 400 4th St. Southeast.

The employee reported that he asked the attacker, who had been in a restroom for a long time, to leave the restroom to clean the toilet.

According to police, the employee said he was struck after the suspect became upset when he was asked to leave the restroom. The suspect then ran behind the counter and the employee again asked the attacker to leave.

Grayson said the suspect struck the employee a second time and the employee responded by using pepper spray or another aerosol chemical irritant.

The suspect then allegedly took several packs of cigarettes and fled the store. According to the police report, the employee did not require medical attention.

So far there have been no arrests. A physical description of the suspect has not been released.

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