Police Allege Newport Man Assaulted Store Clerk at Olympia Sports

MIDDLETOWN, RI—A 245-pound man allegedly caned an employee at Olympia Sports and slammed his palm into the clerk's chest after he was questioned about shoplifting some merchandise, police said. Irving Davila, 34, of Newport, was charged Monday at 6:50 p.m. with Simple Assault and Battery, police said.

Officers were called to the store off East Main Road at 6:39 p.m. for a report about an assault. The victim, who works in the store, said he suspected Davila, who was in the store with a female companion, was shoplifting. He told police in the past he has seen the same two going into the dressing rooms where he suspected they were shoplifting merchandise. He confronted Davila about some items in a bag. Davila allegedly slammed a receipt and his palm into the employee's chest. He also allegedly hit the employee in the leg with a walking cane.

The store employee said he wanted to press charges and also have Davila trespassed from the store. Police arrested Davila and issued the no-trespass at the police station.