Chemical Agent Deployed Outside Lafayette Trader Joe’s Saturday
Odd incident outside the Lafayette Trader Joe’s store this morning with police and fire responding to reports of multiple people doused with bear spray, perhaps from a passing car, following an argument between two people at Trader Joe’s.
The initial victim count of 7 to 12 people sickened was eventually downgraded after the arrival of first responders but at least two folks still went to the hospital for a precautionary examination.
A description of a suspect and her car was provided to police with officers stopping the vehicle on westbound Highway 24 in Orinda. Monica Thomas, 74, of Oakland, was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful use of tear gas.
Witnesses said Thomas had gotten into an argument with another person in the store parking lot when she sprayed the other person with bear spray, deploying the gas a second time while maneuvering out of the lot. Several people, including at least one 4 year old child, reported suddenly finding it hard to breathe after the incident was reported at 10:41am.
It was later determined the eight people had been exposed to the spray.
Surprisingly, Saturday’s incident was not the first time bear spray was deployed in Lafayette.
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Bear spray from a Mercedes traveling at “high speed.” What the heck is wrong with people.
My thoughts exactly Jennifer. I can only hope they got sprayback into the car!
ITWWOT. Never can be too careful out there. Bear spray goes out in a big cloud for about thirty feet, grizzlies really don’t like it.
Firestone 11R
Bear Spray – chemical agent of choice in America since January 6, 2021.
Surely an area license plate reader caught that car and it can be traced down! This is serious…..someone in borderline health or heart/ respiratory problems could die from this kind of prank. Those that did it need a big fine and short jail not a slap on the hand. But somehow our current open-minded (empty minded?) tolerance of criminals doesn’t even want to slap the hand.
Lots of cameras out there, to be sure…
Anyone get arrested for this? Had to be scary for anyone with a noseful of that stuff.
Flock probably tracked them back to east Oakland, riding in a stolen car. Cut them off of welfare please!
Public records show that someone with the same name and age of the person who was arrested lives in Claremont Hills, above the Caldecott tunnel, not East Oakland. Probably not on welfare, but other public record information suggests that she may receive a Cal State Teachers Retirement System pension.
You’re so fast! This website is godsend when it comes to providing local news!
I guess we were lucky she reached for her spray and not for something else.
The “news” just found your story — two days later.
Ha! Yes. We get that a lot… usually after the “why isn’t this in the news?” comments!