Mar 28, 2008 12:28 am US/Pacific
Santa Rosa War Veteran Foils Robbery Attempt
SANTA ROSA (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
A boy in his mid-teens learned Wednesday afternoon that it is not a good idea to try to rob a war veteran at knifepoint, even if he is an 81-year-old former Army paratrooper.
Santa Rosa police Sgt. Steve Bair said that's what happened around 2 p.m. in the 1600 block of Fourth Street. The elderly man, Donald Clouston, was walking with a grocery bag in each arm when the boy approached him with a large knife.
The boy said, "Old man, give me your wallet or I'll cut you," Bair said. The man told the boy he was a veteran who fought in two wars and had been threatened with knives and bayonets, Bair said.
Clouston then put his bags on the ground and told the boy that if he stepped closer he would be sorry. When the boy stepped closer, the man kicked him in the groin, knocking him to the sidewalk, Bair said. The Army paratrooper picked up his grocery bags and walked home, leaving the boy doubled over, Bair said.
The man reported the attempted robbery to police 45 minutes later.
Bair said the teen is white and 15 or 16 years old and anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Rosa Police Department.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
