RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A man who allegedly stole a case of beer and some diapers from a grocery store used the beer to fend off an employee on Wednesday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies arrested Miguel Vieyra, 42, about 2:15 a.m., a couple of hours after he allegedly swiped the items from a Food 4 Less in the 24400 block of Alessandro Boulevard, sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Martin said.

Vieyra, of Moreno Valley, tried to leave the store without paying for a 12-pack of beer and a package of diapers about 12:45 a.m., according to Martin.

“As the security guard attempted to detain the suspect, he swung the 12-pack of beer at the security guard’s head,” Martin said.

The security guard informed deputies of Vieyra’s getaway vehicle, including the license plate, and they arrested the suspect at his residence.

Vieyra is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail and was booked on suspicion of strong-armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and violation of probation.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)