Customer Assaulted Over $.73 Tax at Niles Grocery Store: Cops

NILES, IL - A dispute between a store employee and customer over a $.73 tax resulted in serious charges for the employee, who is accused of punching the man and breaking his glasses outside the store.

Linu Alexander, 37, of Morton Grove faces weapons offenses and a battery charge after the alleged incident on Dec. 1 at a grocery store in the 9000 block of Golf Road, according to the Niles Herald-Spectator. Alexander is accused of hitting the customer - a 49-year-old Glenview man - in the face when the customer decided he was not going to buy something he originally intended to because of the perceived high amount of tax associated with the purchase. When police searched Alexander’s car, they say they found a loaded Glock 43 in the glove compartment.

A report on the incident indicates Alexander “lost control,” followed the victim outside, struck him in the face several times and stepped on and broke the pair of glasses. Alexander claimed the other man made derogatory comments to the store owner, pushed Alexander and was asked to leave.

Police say Alexander fled the scene in his car and was arrested upon his return to the store, when they found the gun.

Related - Employee Accused of Attacking Customer at Store in Niles

More via the Niles Herald-Spectator