Piedmont police arrested 42-year-old Willie Gomer Friday afternoon after he allegedly attacked an elderly customer at Ace Hardware after which the town's police chief before attempting to flee.
Witnesses said Gomer, who’s homeless and on parole for automotive theft, robbery, kidnapping and multiple probation violations, hit an elderly man from behind on the Grand Avenue store. The victim lost consciousness and fell to the bottom. The attack, which occurred around 4:30 p.m. within the normally quiet and affluent East Bay neighborhood, gave the impression to be random.
According to police, the suspect fled to the garden center and attempted to avoid arrest. When he was positioned, he began fighting with police, refusing to obey their commands and appearing to be under the influence of medicine.
To subdue him, officers used each pepper spray and a Taser. But the suspect removed the Taser prongs and fled to a close-by home on Sunnyslope Avenue, where he threatened the resident, police said.
He then ran onto Valle Vista Avenue, where he was confronted by Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers, who had responded to the scene.
The suspect ignored the commands, jumped into the police chief's automotive and tried to drive away. As Bowers got into the automotive to stop Gomer's escape, he was attacked.
Gomer was eventually taken into custody and faraway from the chief's automotive by additional Oakland Police units and a security guard.
He was arrested for assault causing serious bodily injury, injury to an elderly adult, assault on a police officer, robbery, burglary, carjacking, possession of narcotics and probation violation.
The elderly victim was taken to hospital where his condition is unknown. An officer who was also injured within the incident was treated on the hospital and released.
image credit : www.mercurynews.com