Katy nail technician assaulted; HCSO asking for public's help to identify suspect
KATY, Texas - The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who was caught on camera assaulting an employee of a Katy nail salon after refusing to pay.
The suspect, believed to be in her early 20s, attacked an employee at the Venus Nail Salon, located at 1103 South Mason Road in west Harris County, and trashed the business.
The employee who was assaulted spoke with FOX 26 on Thursday and said the female suspect swindled them out of $280.
"It was scary because I never had that before," says the nail technician who was assaulted.
The employee said she believes the woman came in knowing she couldn’t pay, saying she initially went over how much the nails would cost for what she was asking the nail technician to do.
Photo of suspect provided to FOX 26.
"When I start to do it, I asked her, ‘Do you have the money to pay?’ She said, ‘Yes’. I told her the price. She said, ‘Yes, you can do it like that,’" the employee said.
The nails the suspect requested took five hours, the nail tech says. They were elaborate, long nails with 3D flowers.
But when the work was done, the woman said she couldn't pay.
"We told her to pay and then she tried to fight us," the technician said.
So the nail technician said she gave the woman three options, including taking off the nails, but the woman refused.
Salon employees locked the doors and called police. Soon after, the employee says she was assaulted by the non-paying customer, getting hit on the head several times.
"It really hurt and then she scratched me. I still have some scars," the employee said.
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A close friend and longtime customer says she is saddened by what happened and hopes someone can identify the suspect.
"I’ve been coming to her for five years. I’ve been a loyal customer, she does great work, and they’re great in here," says the longtime customer who did not want her identity shown. "So it’s unfair to be treated this way."
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and/or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS.