Bluffton man held after allegedly threatening clerk with broken beer bottle

A 20-year-old Bluffton man was arrested late Monday after he allegedly stole beer, broke one of the bottles and threatened to stab a gas station clerk who confronted him, authorities said Tuesday.

Daniel M. Woods of Pritchard Farm Road was arrested as he left Neighbors on the Parkway, 4372 Bluffton Parkway, at about 10:30 p.m. and charged with high-and-aggravated assault and battery, shoplifting and underage possession of alcohol.

The incident began when Woods entered the store and put six 40-ounce bottles of Heineken in his pants, said Lt. Bryan Norberg of the Bluffton Police Department.

When the clerk tried to stop him, Woods smashed one of the bottles on the floor and held the sharp glass against the employee's lower rib area, threatening to stab him if he wasn't allowed to leave, Norberg said.

The clerk, who already had called police, allowed the suspect to go. Police arrested him as he left the gas station.

Woods was being held at the county jail Tuesday. His bond had not been set.