This week, a man was arrested in Pinole after assaulting a staff member in the building that houses the Pinole police headquarters, in an incident captured on a surveillance camera.
The Pinole Police Department said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the incident occurred Tuesday around 4:15 p.m. at the Pinole Public Safety Building, where the Pinole Police Department and Pinole Fire Station 73 are located.
A man entered the building at 880 Tennent Avenue and walked around the front desk while a police officer assisted another person at the front desk, police said. Initially, the man used the drinking fountain and attempted to open the locked lobby door to the inner police office. He then sat down and waited for about two minutes while the staff member finished assisting the person at the counter.
Pinole Police
When the person left, the man walked up to the counter and was greeted by the staff member. Police said the man responded by reaching out and ringing the counter several times seconds later, grabbing the staff member by her right arm and pulling her toward him. Surveillance footage showed the staff member breaking away and retreating into the main hallway, while the suspect climbed over the counter and through the counter window to chase her.
The victim went to the administration office with the help of another staff member. Officers who heard the commotion rushed to the front desk and were able to confront and arrest the suspect without further incident, police said.
The suspect was identified as 65-year-old Chester Victor, an unincorporated resident of San Pablo. Officers booked Victor into the Martinez Jail on charges of burglary, kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault and an outstanding warrant.
The employee suffered minor injuries to her arm when the suspect pulled her. Police could not provide a possible motive for the attack.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Pinole Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 510-724-1111.
