Man Identified, Arrested in Gas Station Assault Over Cigar Price

A man who apparently didn't want to pay the asking price for a cigar at a local gas station and attacked the clerk as she worked, has been identified and arrested, police said Thursday.

35-year-old Kendrick Ruth of Long Beach is suspected of assaulting a clerk at a Lakewood gas station in the 4900 block of Lakewood Boulevard "...over a dispute regarding the price of a cigar" on Sept. 7, according to sheriff's Capt. Merrill Ladenheim.

"The victim suffered severe injuries as a result of the attack," Ladenheim said.

The attack was caught on security video that was circulated to the media at the time.  Ruth waited in line at the Chevron clerk's register and asked the employee for a $1.41 Swisher Sweet cigar, Ladenheim said in September.

He handed the clerk a $1 bill and when the 23-year-old woman told him the cigar cost 41 cents more, he allegedly argued with her and then threatened her.

According to the sheriff's department, the suspect tried to grab the cigar from the clerk, but she pulled it away, put it under the counter and told the man he needed to leave. 

At that point, he allegedly leaned over the counter and punched her in the face, leaving her with serious injuries, and then ran away.

It took nearly a month for authorities to peg Ruth as the suspect, but he was arrested on Wednesday, at a motel near Long Beach Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard in Long Beach. 

"Ruth was identified after detectives followed up on several leads, and was arrested when leaving the motel," the captain said.

The man was booked on robbery and assault charges at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail, where his bail was set at $100,000, according to jail records.  He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.