A 7-Eleven patron accused of hitting a clerk in the head, hurling bananas at another employee and knocking over two cash registers when his payment card was declined for a candy purchase two months ago was tracked down Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, Santa Ana police released video of the Feb. 11 attack at the convenience store at 902 W. First St., which generated “numerous tips” that led to the arrest of Daniel Jonas Fine, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
An arrest warrant for the 41-year-old Santa Ana resident was served this morning at a sober-living home, according to Bertagna. Fine is charged in the arrest warrant with misdemeanor assault, battery and vandalism.
“Apparently he has a history of doing stuff like this and is currently on probation,” Bertagna said.
The surveillance video shows a customer attempting to buy a package of almond M&Ms when his card — either a credit or debit — was declined, Bertagna said.
The suspect can be seen hitting the clerk in the head, pushing a cash register to the floor and then throwing bananas at another clerk before pushing his register off the counter, as well.
He allegedly caused about $700 in damage.
There was some “tension” between the suspect and the clerks before the attempted payment, Bertagna said.
“He was making racial comments to the clerks and they were just trying to not react,” Bertagna said. “He became even more belligerent when his credit or debit card was declined.”
Court records show Fine has a lengthy criminal history in Orange County dating back to 2014.
He was charged with a March 30, 2014, hit-and-run involving injury or death, but the felony count was dismissed in a plea bargain in which he admitted a misdemeanor count of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm and was ordered to do 30 days of community service in September 2015.
Fine’s probation in that case was revoked in April 2016 and he was sentenced last December to 120 days in jail as part of a plea deal in two other cases, according to court records.
Fine also pleaded guilty Dec. 13 to battery on a peace officer, a misdemeanor, and another count of misdemeanor battery in a separate case, according to court records. Those incidents occurred on April 26 and Aug. 23 of last year.
— City News Service