A San Francisco man who shut down a Fullerton strip mall when he vandalized a smoke shop and barricaded himself inside for hours caused about $30,000 worth of damage, according to investigators.
Michael Black, 41, of San Francisco, was arrested Sunday following a tense, hours-long standoff that involved him breaking shelves in the business, spray painting the windows and damaging the shop’s goods, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
Officers were called to the Rodeo Smokeshop on Orangethorpe Avenue at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of an armed man. Upon arrival, officers located Black inside the business and armed with a large knife. The Fullerton Police Department initially said on Sunday that he was armed with an ax, but clarified on Monday that Black was actually armed with a knife.
Harmesh Lal, who manages the liquor store next door to the smoke shop, said a frightened employee of the smoke shop ran inside his business seeking help after Black entered Rodeo with the knife.
“She came here, told me about a crazy guy in the store. Very scary,” Lal said. “I say, ‘Don’t worry, call the police.’”
The employee was able to flee from the smoke shop unharmed and a SWAT team arrived to try to diffuse the situation. SWAT team members tried to peacefully negotiate with Black but after hours of his refusal, a chemical agent was used to bring the standoff to an end.
Black now faces charges that include vandalism, possession of nitrous oxide and assault on an officer, the Fullerton Police Department said.
“I don’t know how he ended up down here we don’t have any prior contacts with him, but he does have a criminal background,” Billy Phu of the Fullerton Police Department said.
A Possible motive for the vandalism was not clear.