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Police: Verbal altercation turns into assault, robbery at Palo Alto Walgreens

Man allegedly slaps one employee, tries to take the phone of another

A man who allegedly assaulted a Walgreens employee and attempted to take another employee's cellphone at the Midtown Palo Alto location earlier this month left the worker with a laceration to his right eye, a police spokesman said.

The Nov. 14 incident started around 12:40 p.m. when the man, a 36-year-old Palo Alto resident, argued with one of the employees, whom he allegedly slapped in the face, according to police Agent Marco Estrada.

The man then left the store at 2605 Middlefield Road and got into his car. Another employee, who told the Weekly she is the store manager but requested anonymity, tried to take a photo of him and his vehicle on her cellphone.

When he saw the manager attempting to take his photo, the 36-year-old got out of his car and took the phone from her hands, Estrada said. As the first employee tried to intervene, the man allegedly slapped him again. The manager was able to retrieve her phone, which was on the ground. Police were called about five minutes later.

After the altercation, the Palo Alto resident drove away before he was stopped and detained by police near the 1600 block of Webster Street, according to Estrada. Officers booked the man into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on suspicion of robbery and battery.

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A representative for Walgreens media relations refused to comment on the incident.

Editor's note: The Weekly's policy is to withhold the names of those arrested for most crimes until the District Attorney has determined there is sufficient evidence to file charges in the case. See our guidelines here.

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Police: Verbal altercation turns into assault, robbery at Palo Alto Walgreens

Man allegedly slaps one employee, tries to take the phone of another

by Lloyd Lee / Palo Alto Weekly

Uploaded: Wed, Nov 27, 2019, 9:49 am

A man who allegedly assaulted a Walgreens employee and attempted to take another employee's cellphone at the Midtown Palo Alto location earlier this month left the worker with a laceration to his right eye, a police spokesman said.

The Nov. 14 incident started around 12:40 p.m. when the man, a 36-year-old Palo Alto resident, argued with one of the employees, whom he allegedly slapped in the face, according to police Agent Marco Estrada.

The man then left the store at 2605 Middlefield Road and got into his car. Another employee, who told the Weekly she is the store manager but requested anonymity, tried to take a photo of him and his vehicle on her cellphone.

When he saw the manager attempting to take his photo, the 36-year-old got out of his car and took the phone from her hands, Estrada said. As the first employee tried to intervene, the man allegedly slapped him again. The manager was able to retrieve her phone, which was on the ground. Police were called about five minutes later.

After the altercation, the Palo Alto resident drove away before he was stopped and detained by police near the 1600 block of Webster Street, according to Estrada. Officers booked the man into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on suspicion of robbery and battery.

A representative for Walgreens media relations refused to comment on the incident.

Editor's note: The Weekly's policy is to withhold the names of those arrested for most crimes until the District Attorney has determined there is sufficient evidence to file charges in the case. See our guidelines here.

Comments

lock him up
Stanford
on Nov 27, 2019 at 10:12 am
lock him up, Stanford
on Nov 27, 2019 at 10:12 am
are u fur real...
Midtown
on Nov 27, 2019 at 3:46 pm
are u fur real..., Midtown
on Nov 27, 2019 at 3:46 pm

who's the ignoramus who slapped another human being?
anger management problems?
pre-thanksgiving angst?

hope that the employees can press assault charges against this palo alto man, who really should know better.
completely uncalled for, i'm hoping he understands the consequences of his actions!


R. Ortiz
Menlo Park
on Nov 27, 2019 at 8:18 pm
R. Ortiz, Menlo Park
on Nov 27, 2019 at 8:18 pm

Like too many rats confined to a cage, the rampant population density now plaguing our communities has given rise to shorter fuses.


Jimmie
East Palo Alto
on Nov 30, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Jimmie, East Palo Alto
on Nov 30, 2019 at 12:49 pm

Yes I recall the study where a harmonious community of rats had their populations slowly increased in the closed space and the results analyzed.
As the population increased the community was less harmonious and more irritated.
As population Increased further the community was no more connected and violence prevailed.

Are we there yet ?


pinball
Registered user
Greenmeadow
on Dec 11, 2019 at 10:50 pm
pinball, Greenmeadow
Registered user
on Dec 11, 2019 at 10:50 pm

@Jimmie @R. Ortiz

Nonsense. Go to Japan. Intense crowds surrounded by intense manners. New York has more people now than in the 1990s, but the crime rate is lower.


CrescentParkAnon.
Crescent Park
on Dec 12, 2019 at 1:02 pm
CrescentParkAnon., Crescent Park
on Dec 12, 2019 at 1:02 pm

Maybe it's not the crowding but the number of rats?


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