Police arrested a San Martin man Saturday afternoon for threatening at least three people at knifepoint while trying to get away with less than $10 worth of stolen merchandise from Wal-Mart in Gilroy.
"Basically, it was a shoplifting incident that went bad," Sgt. Jim Gillio said.
A loss services employee at Wal-Mart, 7150 Camino Arroyo, attempted to detain Roberto Mendoza, 25, as he tried to steal a hose spray nozzle and spark plug wires valued at $9.28 from the store, according to police reports. Mendoza threatened the employee with a pocket knife and then fled on foot from the store as a "good Samaritan" shopper chased him down, Gillio said.
Mendoza then tried to get inside the passenger side of a slow-moving Honda Accord in the Wal-Mart parking lot, but kept running his pursuer came closer. As the shopper approached Mendoza, he pulled out his pocket knife and threatened to stab the man if he came close, according to a police report.
Then he fled on foot to the nearby Chevron USA gas station, 7110 Camino Arroyo, where he opened the passenger door of a car and told the driver that he was frightened and asked the person to drive away, Gillio said. The driver became scared after he noticed the man was holding a knife, according to a police report.
However, a California Highway Patrol unit happened to be at the gas station, and at least one CHP officer witnessed the incident, police said. As an officer approached, Mendoza stole a cell phone from inside the vehicle and then fled on foot once again.
The officer chased Mendoza through Lowe's, 7151 Camino Arroyo, before arresting him at 1:51 p.m. in a lot behind the store.
Mendoza was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on charges of exhibiting a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon and robbery.
Gillio said it was surprising that Mendoza went through so much effort to escape authorities for less than $10 worth of merchandise, but he was grateful that the incident ended on a good note.
"Thank God no victims were hurt," Gillio said.
Jonathan Partridge Jonathan Partridge covers City Hall for The Dispatch. Reach him at 847-7109 or e-mail him at jpartridge@svnewspapers.com.
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