2 Grocery Security Guards Held in Beating of Man Accused of Theft

Two supermarket security guards were arrested on suspicion of assault Friday in the alleged beating of a man suspected of stealing alcohol, Burbank police said.

Police said the guards confronted Herbert Joseph Barry, 43, of Canyon Country, after he allegedly left the Pavilions market at 1110 Alameda Ave. with a cart containing $700 in alcohol, mostly champagne.

Burbank Police Lt. Wade Taylor said the guards 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 mouth and cheeks in the 5 p.m. incident and will require reconstructive surgery, Taylor said. After Barry recovers, he will be booked on suspicion of theft, Taylor added.

The two security guards were booked on suspicion of mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon. They were identified by police as Carlos Jesus Guerra, 28, of South Pasadena and Humberto Antonio Onofre, 34, of Garden Grove.

Guerra and Onofre work for Burns International Security Services, which is employed by Pavilions, police said.

Workers at Pavilion’s declined comment Friday night.