A 91原创 Superstore cashier, who helped a co-worker flee a mentally ill man, said she thought it was a robbery until the man went to grab the woman by the neck.

91原创 City resident Stacy Larson was working at the local grocer in the 19800-block of Willowbrook Drive on Sunday morning, Sept. 24, around 11 a.m., when it happened.

鈥淪he was on the till ahead of me, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw this man, running up to her 鈥� coming from where the store exit is,鈥� Larson told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淗e went up and whispered something to her, and then, there was a struggle,鈥� Larson recounted.

鈥淎t first I kind of thought, well, maybe he鈥檚 robbing her, right? I looked up, and he鈥檚 not taking any money, but now he鈥檚 starting, like, to grab at her. Somehow, he鈥檚 got his hands on her neck and he鈥檚 shaking her, like strangling her,鈥� she noted.

鈥淚鈥檓 just in utter shock,鈥� Larson recalled.

鈥淥ne of the customers yelled 鈥榞et your hands off her鈥� and stuff like that. I ran around my till, and somehow, I was able to grab her hand and I said 鈥榯ake my hand鈥� and we ran.鈥�

They were able to escape to the produce department and safety.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 look back, and then all of a sudden she collapsed in the produce department and I yelled, 鈥榮omebody call 9-1-1.鈥� She鈥檚 hyperventilating. She can鈥檛 breathe.鈥�

By then, several people, including at least one store manager, were holding the man.

A woman, who said she was the man鈥檚 mother, 鈥渨as yelling at them to let him go because he hadn鈥檛 taken his medication.鈥�

Larson said the man appeared to be older, in his 40s or 50s.

鈥淚 found out that what he originally said to her was. 鈥榶ou鈥檙e going to kiss me鈥� and then she obviously said 鈥榥o, I鈥檓 not鈥�.鈥�

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91原创 RCMP Cpl. Craig van Herk said officers arrived to find a suspect was being held by customers.

鈥淭he man suffered an apparent mental health episode,鈥� van Herk told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淗e was apprehended and taken to hospital for further assessment and care.鈥�

Criminal charges were not expected.

While initial police reports said the cashier was uninjured other than fainting, Larson said the woman was physically hurt.

鈥淪he鈥檚 traumatized, obviously,鈥� Larson said.

鈥淪he鈥檚 off work. She鈥檚 having to go to physiotherapy because she鈥檚 got some injuries from him in her shoulder areas from the attack.鈥�

Social media posts reported police, fire, and ambulance were called to the scene, and the cashier was seen being wheeled out on a stretcher.

One witness said it all happened very fast, and a store manager and at least three customers quickly intervened and restrained the attacker.

91原创 Advance Times has reached out to Superstore for comment.

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