Report Of Man With Knife In Napa Target Draws Police Response: PD

NAPA, CA — A situation Wednesday afternoon involving a man with a knife inside a Napa Target store drew a response from the Napa Police Department. Officers responded to Target, 205 Soscol Ave. in the South Napa Market Place, at 12:49 p.m. to reports about a man wearing a bandanna across his face who was waving two knives and stumbling around, according to Napa police Lt. Chase Haag.

The suspect was trying to open a box of knives with another knife and threatened store security while waving a knife prior to police arrival, according to a Napa Police Department statement posted to social media.

"He was being monitored by loss prevention while officers were en route," Haag said.

To defuse the situation and keep shoppers and store employees safe, officers responded with "less-than lethal" beanbag devices, as well as TASERs and guns, according to Napa PD.

Officers with the California Highway Patrol also responded, and helped close the front of the store while Napa officers worked to resolve the situation, Haag said.

The suspect, identified by Napa police as 29-year-old George Kyle Johnson of Santa Rosa, "was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance as he wandered the store and made bizarre / threatening statements," Haag said.

The lieutenant noted that contrary to social media posts, Johnson — 6 feet 4 inches tall— was taken into custody without incident.

Johnson was later booked into the Napa County jail on suspicion of making criminal threats and brandishing a deadly weapon, according to Haag.

Napa police said there were no injuries to anyone involved.