AN unassuming itinerant vendor on Monday walked into a King Street store in Georgetown just after 16:00hrs. The store was being closed, but the vendor defied a security guard’s instruction to back out of the store. It was a mistake for which he (vendor) has paid dearly, being now warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Being desperate to secure a few items that would easily sell for the opening up of school, 51-year-old Andrew Williams of La Grange, West Bank Demerara, took a chance and hurried over to an item which had attracted his attention, only to be struck on the front of the head with a piece of iron, allegedly by the security guard. He was also struck on the left shoulder, and it still bears marks from the blow.

Under pain from the blows, Williams buckled, and his haversack containing about $1,800, along with about 20 ABC charts fell from him. A man who witnessed what had happened shouted at the guard.

Ironically, Williams said, the man in charge of the store hustled the security guard into his car and drove away with him before the police could intervene.

The Good Samaritan who had accosted the security guard accompanied the vendor to the Brickdam Police Station, where a report was made. The police later took the injured man to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was treated and admitted.