A Yuba City shoplifter was arrested Saturday after a man tried to stop the suspect as he was fleeing from a store parking lot in a dramatic scene that was also caught on camera, according to the Yuba City Police Department.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday, officers with the Yuba City Police Department responded to a WalMart parking lot in the 1100 block of Harter Road in reference to a vehicle accident.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a 46-year-old male had been struck by a vehicle trying to flee the parking lot. The victim in the incident attempted to stop the driver of the vehicle, who was suspected of shoplifting from the WalMart, the police department said.
Initially, the victim saw the shoplifting suspect, 31-year-old Michael Ramirez, of Olivehurst, exiting quickly from the store. The victim saw Ramirez get into this vehicle along with two children, a 7-year-old and 10-year-old, after a store employee said they believed he had shoplifted.
In the process, the victim pulled his vehicle behind Ramirez’s vehicle to prevent him from fleeing. However, Ramirez began driving his vehicle while hitting other vehicles in order to exit the area. The victim then attempted to cut the tires of Ramirez's vehicle using a knife. After striking several vehicles, Ramirez pulled away, striking the victim with his vehicle on the way out of the parking lot.
The victim was treated at local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers apprehended Ramirez in Olivehurst after the incident and arrested him. Ramirez has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, petty theft, child endangerment, and vandalism.
