An IHOP employee in Beaumont was attacked early Saturday while arriving for work. The suspect has been identified by BPD.
BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont IHOP employee was attacked early Saturday morning while arriving for work at the IHOP on 5875 Eastex Fwy according to the restaurant’s district manager.
Tifani Brown, a district manager for IHOP, said she spoke with police after the incident, which occurred around 6:10 a.m. as the employee walked toward the front door to begin her shift.
Brown said a man approached the employee and asked for a cigarette. When the employee told him she did not have one, the man attacked her.
The employee suffered scratches and had blood on her head when she made it inside the restaurant, Brown said.
Police responded to the scene, obtained surveillance video and generated a case number, Brown said. She said officers have identified a suspect and the investigation is ongoing.
Brown told 12News that Beaumont police were called and video evidence was collected.
Beaumont police said officers made contact with the victim at the scene and completed an initial report, but the suspect was not located at that time.
Later Saturday afternoon, at around 5:37 p.m., officers were called to Parkdale Mall regarding a trespassing complaint involving a subject who matched the description of the earlier assault suspect. Police said officers contacted the individual and were able to positively identify the suspect based on clothing and physical description.
The suspect, later identified as William Miller, was taken into custody on unrelated charges. Formal charges connected to the IHOP assault are being pursued through the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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