Glen Park Store Robbed; Owner Beaten And Stabbed, Employee Kidnapped

Grocer beaten, robbed in Glen Park

Rachel Gordon, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, August 31, 2008
(08-30) 19:06 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Armed robbers beat and stabbed the owner of a corner grocery store in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood late Friday night, and another store employee was kidnapped and later released, police reported.

Paul Park, who owns Buddies Market at the corner of Chenery and Diamond streets, was getting ready to go home around 11 p.m. when he was confronted by three or four suspects who reportedly broke in through the rear door.

"The suspects beat and stabbed the store's owner, robbed the store of cash, and kidnapped an employee. The suspects escaped by stealing the store's van. The employee was released in Daly City," San Francisco police Capt. Denis O'Leary wrote in a crime alert he e-mailed to neighborhood residents and merchants.

He described the suspects as black males wearing dark clothing.

Park, who had been bound and gagged and was suffering from multiple stab wounds, managed to cross the street and seek help at Le P'tit Laurent, a French bistro.

"It was really scary, really terrible," said owner Laurent Legendre, who summoned police.

Park was in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital today. The name and condition of the employee who was kidnapped was not immediately available.

Park is known by neighbors as a hard-working businessman who puts in long hours at his mom-and-pop store.

The store's van, which was used in the getaway, is still missing. It is a tan-colored 2002 Toyota Siena, with California license plate No. 4VHN307. Police ask anyone who spots the van to call 911.

Anyone with additional information about the crime is asked to call the SFPD robbery unit at 415-553-1201 during normal business hours or the operations center after hours at 415-553-1071.

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