2 Supermarket Guards Arrested in Beating of Theft Suspect
Two security guards at a Pavilions supermarket in Burbank were arrested on suspicion of assault Friday for allegedly beating a man suspected of stealing champagne, police said.
Police said the guards confronted Herbert Joseph Barry, 43, of Canyon Country after he left the market at 1110 W. Alameda Ave. with a cart containing $700 worth of alcohol, mostly champagne.
Burbank Police Lt. Wade Taylor said the guards allegedly beat Barry with a collapsible baton, causing shoppers to come to his aid.
“None of the civilians knew they were loss prevention guards,” Taylor said. “They intervened to prevent him from being further beaten.”
Barry suffered massive injuries to his lips and cheeks in the 5 p.m. incident and was going to require reconstructive surgery, Taylor said. After Barry recovers, he will be booked on suspicion of theft, Taylor added.
The guards were booked on suspicion of mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon and were identified by police as Carlos Jesus Guerra, 28, of South Pasadena and Humberto Antonio Onofre, 34, of Garden Grove.
They work for Burns International Security Services.
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