A man who allegedly assaulted a Walgreens employee and attempted to take another employee's cellphone at the Midtown Palo Alto location earlier this month left the worker with a laceration to his right eye, a police spokesman said.

The Nov. 14 incident started around 12:40 p.m. when the man, a 36-year-old Palo Alto resident, argued with one of the employees, whom he allegedly slapped in the face, according to police Agent Marco Estrada.

The man then left the store at 2605 Middlefield Road and got into his car. Another employee, who told the Weekly she is the store manager but requested anonymity, tried to take a photo of him and his vehicle on her cellphone.

When he saw the manager attempting to take his photo, the 36-year-old got out of his car and took the phone from her hands, Estrada said. As the first employee tried to intervene, the man allegedly slapped him again. The manager was able to retrieve her phone, which was on the ground. Police were called about five minutes later.

After the altercation, the Palo Alto resident drove away before he was stopped and detained by police near the 1600 block of Webster Street, according to Estrada. Officers booked the man into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on suspicion of robbery and battery.

A representative for Walgreens media relations refused to comment on the incident.

Editor's note: The Weekly's policy is to withhold the names of those arrested for most crimes until the District Attorney has determined there is sufficient evidence to file charges in the case. See our guidelines here.