Jan 4, 2008 9:21 am US/Eastern
Geno's Employee Speaks Out After Assault
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
A Geno's Steaks employee is
speaking out after he was brutally assaulted by two unidentified suspects just
two days after Christmas.
Surveillance video shows the suspects at the world-famous cheesesteak shop in South
Philadelphia in the early morning hours of December 27.
Police said the unidentified
males reportedly were verbally harassing a female employee about a
controversial 'Speak English' sign displayed at Geno's around 6:30 a.m.
A fellow employee, 32-year-old
Tony Chestnut, who was outside power-washing, tried to intervene and an
altercation ensued.
Chestnut said he pushed one
of the suspects who was in his face and then he tried to walk away.
"When I just waived them off and turned my back and next thing I know I
was in the air, seeing the ground come up real close, real fast," Chestnut
said from his South Philly home. "After that I really, really don't
remember much."
Chestnut said one of the
suspects picked him up again and slammed him to the ground a second time.
"For someone to pick
someone up and throw them on their head, in my opinion, he tried to kill that
kid and I think he should definitely go to jail," Geno's manager Joe Perno
said.
Authorities said Chestnut suffered
cranial injuries, fractured vertebrae, collar bone and rib and a loss of
hearing in his left ear. He said he is in a great deal of pain, frequent dizzy
spells and a lack of hearing in his left arm since the attack.
A surveillance camera captured video of the alleged suspects at the counter of
Geno's.
The first suspect is described as a white male, 18-25 years old,
5'8"-5'10", with brown hair, wearing a brown coat, and dark pants.
The second suspect is described as a white male, 18-25 years old,
5'10"-6'0", with brown hair, and was wearing glasses, a light colored
baseball hat and a yellow/white/tan coat.
Geno's owner Joey Vento said he is offering a $5,000 reward for any information
leading to an arrest in the assault.
If you have any information, please call police at 215-686-3013.
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