Shoplifter Allegedly Assaults Store Employee

say a shoplifter assaulted an employee and ran away into a creek behind the Chartiers Valley Shopping Center.

Joseph Zalin, 32, of Pittsburgh, went into the office supplies store in the Great Southern Shopping Center on Aug. 11 and tried to leave with an iPhone power case, iPod battery charger and battery boosters worth more than $200, police said.

As he tried to leave the store with the items, police said he “got into a scuffle” with a male employee who tried to stop him before pushing the worker to the ground. Police said the worker suffered visible bumps and bruises, along with a knee injury that needed to be treated at a local hospital.

Zalin ran from the store, police said, and tried to get away by going into the creek behind the nearby . Police arrested him shortly after.

Police charged him with robbery, retail theft, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. He is being held at Allegheny County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Zalin’s preliminary hearing with is scheduled for Aug. 27.

DUI crash: Greg Grismore, 42, of Collier, faces drunken driving charges after township police said he crashed into a parked car along Benson Boulevard on Aug. 13.

Golf cart stolen from Nevillewood: A golf cart owned by The Club at Nevillewood was stolen on Aug. 10, Collier police said. The golf cart, which is worth about $2,000, was reported stolen after it was missing for a week.

Woman charged with retail theft: Beth Anne Brokenbek, 35, of South Fayette, was charged with retail theft after Collier Township police said she tried to steal a black dress worth $30 from Kmart on Aug. 7.

Retail theft charge: Reese Elliott, 20, of Carnegie, was charged with retail after allegedly stealing several items from Kmart worth $87 on Aug. 14, Collier police said.

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