A 27-year-old Hialeah man is behind bars charged for his role in the robbery of a Florida City gas station last weekend and a fight with an employee inside that was caught on camera.
Walter Jiron was charged with four counts, including armed robbery and grand theft. His bond was set at $30,000 with police saying more charges could be added.
NBC 6 spoke exclusively to the clerk, Emanuel Santos, about the crazy moments he managed to fend off Jiron and another attacker during the incident.
"The guy just walked in and hit me with a bat. Didn't ask me for nothing so I just reacted. It was instinct," Santos said.
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Santos said adrenaline kicked in during the melee with the two brazen robbers, who rushed in to the Shell gas station with a bat. They immediately started swinging but during the scuffle, Santos managed to get the bat and hit his attacker multiple times.
"I don't feel like no braveheart or anything like that. I had to do what I had to do. If your back is against the wall, you know," he said. "I went to the left and I rushed him and I had the bat in my hand. It was weird."
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At one point Santos' co-worker swooped in for backup, pushing the other crook, who landed on his face. The robbers also had a knife and were able to steal about $300.
Santos still has bruises but is doing fine otherwise.
"When I go back to work I'll just stare at the door this time instead of having my back turned because that's where he caught me," he said.
