A local teenager ended his evening in police custody on Monday, according to a press release issued Wednesday morning by Novato Police Department Sergeant Jay Demski.
Just after 7:00 p.m. Monday evening, NPD patrol officers Cantley and Ramirez, along with Sergeant Dunlap, responded to a report of a physical altercation in the Downtown Center parking lot located in the 1700 block of Grant Avenue in Novato.
Officers arrested 18-year-old Pravin Kevin Lal, of Novato, on charges of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, and evading a peace officer. “Lal and an unknown [black male adult suspect] were conspiring to steal the victim’s marijuana,” as NPD Lieutenant John McCarthy explained.
Officers learned that Lal and the victim, a 19-year-old white male adult and Petaluma resident, had been sitting in the victim’s vehicle when the fight began. Both men left the car in the middle of the altercation, and witness reports state that Lal attempted to stab the victim with a kitchen knife before stealing marijuana from him and running away.
Officers spotted the two suspects near the scene, and both began running. Officers followed Lal on foot and caught him before he could escape. “They saw the black male adult run off; they weren’t able to catch him,” McCarthy said.
Officers found the marijuana that Lal had reportedly stolen when they arrested him and booked him into Marin County Jail on the above charges.
None of the involved parties are reported to have suffered serious injuries. Police have no further information about the identity or location of the second suspect at this time. Lal, who lists his occupation as working in retail, was arrested in December for embezzlement of more than $400.00. No further details of that incident were available.
There are no plans to file possession charges against the victim, according to McCarthy.
