The security guard at Vons at 5555 Balboa Ave. had handcuffed the shoplifter, but removed the handcuffs after about an hour, and the man stabbed him in the arm with something and ran off, San Diego police Officer David Stafford said.

The guard was taken to Sharp Hospital. The suspect was described as a 22-year-old, Asian man, about 6 feet tall with a muscular build.