Criminal Chaos: Suspect Runs Amok In Palo Alto

PALO ALTO, CA – A whirlwind, one-man crime spree that reportedly began with the groping of a department store employee at Stanford Shopping Center and included punching a security guard, stealing restaurant food, spitting at a paramedic and head-butting and trying to bite a nurse finally ended Monday with the jailing of a suspect from Redwood City, authorities said.

Palo Alto police arrested 41-year-old Javas Debois Minor of Redwood City for a multitude of assault, battery and criminal threat offenses.

The Palo Alto Police Department initially was called Monday at 7:11 p.m. to Macy’s at Stanford Shopping Center after a subject reportedly groped the buttocks of a female employee in her 30s. When the store's loss-prevention officer asked the man to leave, the suspect purportedly punched the worker in the jaw and fled, police said.

The security officer, in his 30s, sustained a laceration to his tongue, but did not require medical treatment, police said.

As officers responded at Macy's, a call came in from nearby P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, also at Stanford Shopping Center at 180 El Camino Real, after a man allegedly entered the restaurant's kitchen-prep area, claimed he had a gun and swiped food from the takeout counter, the department said.

The subject also threw a plate of food at a male employee in his 20s, made numerous threats to kill the worker and another employee, and made threatening gestures with his fist in the face of a female worker in her 20s before fleeing, police said.

Within a few minutes, a Palo Alto officer found and detained the suspect, Minor, purportedly still carrying the stolen P.F. Chang's food, at the transit depot at 95 University Avenue.

"No gun was ever located, and police believe the suspect had simply lied to P.F. Chang’s employees about being in possession of one," the department said. "As officers were moving him to a patrol car, he attempted to kick one of the officers but missed."

At the police station as Minor was under processing for arrest, he allegedly "claimed that he could no longer feel his feet due to a medical condition," police said.

Police said the man spit in the face of a Palo Alto Fire Department paramedic called to assess his medical condition. And after transport to a local hospital for a medical clearance prior to incarceration, the suspect reportedly attempted to bite and then head-butted a nurse who was treating him, police said.

The nurse sustained minor injuries to his nose and forehead, and was treated at the hospital, the department said.

Police eventually booked Minor into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for suspicion of felony robbery, felony criminal threats, resisting arrest and four counts of alleged assault and/or battery. The victim of the reported sexual battery at Macy's opted to not press charges, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413, or leave an anonymous tip by email to paloalto@tipnow.org or via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the free mobile app, downloadable at www.bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or www.bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

ALSO SEE:

• Rooftop Prowler Busted In Palo Alto: Police

• Stanford Dumps Plans For Plaque At Brock Turner Assault Site

--Image via Palo Alto PD