18-Year-Old Accused of Biting WinCo Worker During Alcohol Theft Attempt in Victorville

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — An 18-year-old man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a supermarket employee during a failed shoplifting attempt at the WinCo Foods store in Victorville, officials reported.

The incident occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the grocery store located on Roy Rogers Drive. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, store employees observed the teenage suspect attempting to steal alcoholic beverages from the shelves and bypassed the cash registers without paying.

When a loss prevention officer and a store worker attempted to stop the suspect near the exit, a physical struggle ensued. During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly bit the WinCo employee in a desperate effort to escape. Despite the assault, workers managed to detain the suspect until deputies arrived at the scene.

The suspect was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the High Desert Detention Center on charges of commercial robbery due to the escalation of force used during the theft. The store employee suffered minor injuries but did not require immediate hospitalization. The investigation remains ongoing.