40-ounce doesn’t lead to freedom for Fresno pair

Two men were arrested on robbery charges Friday after they wouldn’t take no for an answer when a clerk denied them more beer because they were already drunk, Fresno police reported.

A veteran police sergeant was injured capturing one of the suspects after a chase through an apartment complex near Shields and Maple avenues in east-central Fresno.

The incident began about 8:30 a.m., after the two went into a minimart at Shields and Maple to buy beer, according to Lt. Mike Brogdon. The clerk did not want to sell them the alcohol because they were intoxicated, and one of the pair grabbed a 40-ounce bottle and tried to leave. When the clerk tried to stop them, a scuffle ensued, and one of the men dropped a gun, which he picked up as the robbers fled.

Sgt. Mike Palomino captured one of the pair in a chase through the complex east of Maple, but pulled a hamstring doing so. The second man was tracked to an apartment, where police say he changed his clothes. Several other people in the apartment were being questioned and two were arrested. Police were seeking a warrant to search for the firearm.

This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 12:24 PM with the headline "40-ounce doesn’t lead to freedom for Fresno pair."