A Joliet man has been charged with punching a cashier at a downtown store. In an attempt to stop the attack, the cashier then hit the man in the head with a baseball bat, police said.

Andre Ellis, 61, was briefly hospitalized for his injuries following his altercation with the cashier at Ranch Liquors, 83 W. Jefferson St., on July 19, Joliet police Sergeant Dwayne English said.

On August 9, Ellis was charged with two counts of aggravated assault. Ellis pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Although Ellis was not arrested, he was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and ranch liquors, court documents show.

On July 19 at around 4:00 p.m., officers responded to a report of a fight at Ranch Liquors.

Officers learned that Ellis was a customer at the store and got into an argument with the cashier when she asked him not to bother another customer.

At some point, the cashier left the register and went into a back room. Police officials believe Ellis followed the cashier and punched him in the head “multiple times” and pushed him into nearby shelves, English said.

“The cashier then struck Ellis in the head with a baseball bat to stop the attack,” English said.

Ellis was arrested at the scene and taken to Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital – Joliet for treatment of his injuries.

Ellis received a summons from the police to appear in court in his case for aggravated assault.