A thief with decent vision, not to mention foresight, would never try to rob downtown optician Tom Kirkland. Kirklands' designer eyeglass store on North Eighth Street in Richmond is across the street from a Capitol police station.Kirkland, 51, is armed, and he's an instructor in karate. His sales associate, Neal Griffin, 39, is a bodybuilder.
So there was just no way in Chanel they were going to let someone scoot out of their store yesterday morning with $3,000 worth of designer frames during the height of their busy holiday season. The Grinch didn't steal Christmas, said Kirkland, who has been in business for 24 years.
Richmond police said Rashawn Jamal Perry, 20, entered just after 11:30 a.m. and shoved a customer and Griffin into a carousel of eyewear. Fourth Precinct Sgt. Frank Misiano said Perry then began swiping frames and started to leave the shop when Kirkland sprang into action.
"I jumped on his back and was riding him," Kirkland said. "I started beating him on the head."
| "Yeeeeeeeee-haaaaahhhhhhhh!" |
Perry suffered a possible broken elbow and back injury. Kirkland got only scratches in the scuffle. "I grew up in Petersburg, I'm used to fighting," said Kirkland, a guy who clearly can Fend for himself.
I blame our public education system.