July 16, Staff Report
Police are searching for a man who struck an Astoria grocery owner in the face with a power drill after an argument with one of the employees.
At 5:20 p.m. on June 22, the man entered 41st Grocery Store at 30-03 41 Street—where he is a regular and is known as Frederico, according to police. He got into a verbal dispute with a female deli employee, and the 44-year-old owner attempted to break it up.
At that point, the man hit the victim in the face with a power drill, knocking out three teeth. He then fled in an unknown direction.
The power drill was already in his possession and no property was stolen.
The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Queens Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Police described Frederico as a 37-year-old white or Hispanic man with blue eyes and long, blond, wavy hair. He is about 150 pounds and 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt, sunglasses, shorts and white sneakers.
Police have released a surveillance photo of the suspect.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or on Twitter @ NYPDTips.