A man tried to strangle a clerk in a downtown Colorado Springs store Monday afternoon when she tried to prevent him from going into an employees-only restroom, according to police.

Thomas Bittner walked into the unnamed store on Tejon Street to try on a dress around 2 p.m., police said, and then ran from the dressing room into the employee restroom. A female clerk followed him to say he wasn’t allowed in there, and he reached around the door. He dragged the clerk into the restroom and onto the floor and tried to strangle her, according to police.

A woman who was shopping in the store started punching Bittner, allowing the clerk to get away and call 911, and a man blocked the door and contained Bittner until police arrived.

The clerk sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Bittner was booked into jail on suspicion of kidnapping/false imprisonment and assault.

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Contact Kassondra Cloos: 636-0362

Twitter: @KassondraCloos