HOUSTON – A man who strolled into a tire shop on in northeast Houston stole the store manager's cellphone then started a melee, police said.
"I don't know if he was on something or it was the heat, but he definitely wasn't right," a Power Tire employee said.
On May 29, around 4 p.m., the unidentified man can be seen taunting a security camera, after stealing the cellphone. Minutes later, the man reappears on another outdoor surveillance camera at the tire shop at 5344 Antoine.
This time three other men are with him. The group exchanges words with tire shop employees, and the tire shop employees arm themselves with shop tools.
Seconds later, in the corner of the screen, seven men were seen tangled up in a big fight.
"We don't recommend you take them on. You never know who has a gun or a knife," HPD Investigator Frank Heenan said.
Police said it appeared the original theft suspect stabbed one of the employees. He was seen limping back to the store.
Tire shop employees will not be charged with a crime, but police ask if anyone has information about the original suspect to call Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.