05-02-2005, 06:26 PM
FARGO, N.D. - A pizza delivery driver here was assaulted after refusing to take marijuana as payment for a pie, police said.
Police arrested a 21-year-old man early Saturday for robbery. He was released from the Cass County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.
Pizza Patrol driver Atif Yasin phoned police about 3:30 a.m. to report the assault, said Sgt. Shannon Ruziska.
Yasin said he thinks the man was asleep when he arrived to deliver a medium pizza and 20-ounce soda.
After knocking a few times and calling the man on his cell phone, he answered the door in his boxers, Yasin said.
The man took the pizza, spent a few minutes looking for money and then offered to pay with marijuana, Yasin said.
When Yasin said he either needed money or the pizza, the man began to yell, Yasin said.
Yasin said the man pushed him and punched him in the face.
After calling police and waiting for officers to arrive, Yasin delivered two more orders that were waiting in his car.
Officers who arrested the man said he was intoxicated, Ruziska said.
Because the man is accused of assaulting Yasin while committing a theft, he was arrested on suspicion of robbery, Ruziska said.
Yasin did not seek medical attention for his injuries. The right side of his face was still red and swollen Saturday afternoon, he said.
Yasin, a 22-year-old Minnesota State University Moorhead student, said it is the first time he's been assaulted in three years delivering pizza.
He said he was a little nervous to work his next shift, which began at midnight on Sunday. Yasin said he'll handle it differently if he encounters a similar situation again.
"I won't argue to the people who took the pizza," he said. "I'll just leave right away."
Police arrested a 21-year-old man early Saturday for robbery. He was released from the Cass County Jail after posting $5,000 bond.
Pizza Patrol driver Atif Yasin phoned police about 3:30 a.m. to report the assault, said Sgt. Shannon Ruziska.
Yasin said he thinks the man was asleep when he arrived to deliver a medium pizza and 20-ounce soda.
After knocking a few times and calling the man on his cell phone, he answered the door in his boxers, Yasin said.
The man took the pizza, spent a few minutes looking for money and then offered to pay with marijuana, Yasin said.
When Yasin said he either needed money or the pizza, the man began to yell, Yasin said.
Yasin said the man pushed him and punched him in the face.
After calling police and waiting for officers to arrive, Yasin delivered two more orders that were waiting in his car.
Officers who arrested the man said he was intoxicated, Ruziska said.
Because the man is accused of assaulting Yasin while committing a theft, he was arrested on suspicion of robbery, Ruziska said.
Yasin did not seek medical attention for his injuries. The right side of his face was still red and swollen Saturday afternoon, he said.
Yasin, a 22-year-old Minnesota State University Moorhead student, said it is the first time he's been assaulted in three years delivering pizza.
He said he was a little nervous to work his next shift, which began at midnight on Sunday. Yasin said he'll handle it differently if he encounters a similar situation again.
"I won't argue to the people who took the pizza," he said. "I'll just leave right away."