FORT GREENE — A self-proclaimed neighborhood "gangster" was arrested for stealing a beer from 7-Eleven and getting into a fight with a store employee who stood up to him, police said.
Roberto Gonzalez, 28, went into the 7-Eleven at 395 Flatbush Ave. Ext. at 10:40 a.m. on Dec. 28 after knocking over a promotional sign outside, according to police and an assistant manager who declined to give his name.
Gonzalez walked toward the beer section at the back of the store and grabbed a 24-ounce Coors Light from the refrigerator before opening it and walking out, the employee said.
The same assistant manager and a store security guard walked outside to tell Gonzalez he had to pay for the beer, but the thief insisted he had it before he walked into the store, the worker said.
“I said, ‘No, I saw you with my own eyes when you came in,’” the employee recounted.
“He didn’t have no beer when he came in and then he comes out with the beer.”
After 20 minutes of arguing with Gonzalez, the employee went back into the store and told the thief he couldn’t come back in, he said.
Gonzalez ignored him and came in again anyways, telling him he was a "gangster" from Fort Greene, the assistant manager said.
“I said, ‘I don’t care who you are, you can’t come back in,’” the employee said.
Gonzalez started throwing Lemon Drop candies from the store shelves at the assistant manager, who said he kept his cool until Gonzalez walked up to the register and spit at him.
“That pissed me off, so we went around the corner and got into a fight,” the employee said.
Gonzalez managed to punch the assistant manager twice in the jaw, leaving him with a swollen lip.
Customers from a nearby Verizon store broke up the fight and called the police, according to the assistant manager.
Gonzalez was charged with petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, assault, menacing and harassment, according to prosecutors.
He was released without bail and is next scheduled to appear in court by Feb. 22, court records show.
Attorney information for Gonzalez was not immediately available.
Other notable crimes from the 88th Precinct include:
► A 32-year-old man was shot multiple times by an unknown suspect at the Ingersoll Houses at 85 Navy Walk at 4:55 p.m. on Jan. 4, police said. The victim was taken to Methodist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made.
► A 65-year-old woman was walking in front of 338 Myrtle Ave. when a man ran up behind her and took her $200 Samsung cellphone at 9:57 a.m. on Jan. 1, police said.
► A group of five suspects surrounded a 29-year-old man as he was walking near 446 Classon Ave. and took his wallet, containing cash and credit cards, around 6:30 p.m. on Jan 2, police said. One of the suspects told the man he had a gun and punched him in the face before robbing him.
► Three teens were arrested for stealing $600 in cash, a Coach wallet and several credit cards from a 59-year-old man while pretending to have a gun as the victim was trying to get into his car in front of 355 Grand Ave. at 7:20 p.m. on Jan 5, police said.
