San Luis Obispo Police have a man in custody after he allegedly punched a store clerk in the face last Thursday.
According to SLOPD, officers responded around 10:13 a.m. to the Flip Flop Shop, 858 Higuera St., regarding a report of an assault that just occurred. According to the victim, a 23-year-old SLO female resident, she was working inside the store when a male subject approached her and started a conversation. She told police, after several minutes inside the store, the suspect walked up to her and punched her in the face.
According to SLOPD, the victim sustained a bloody nose and bruising to her face. The suspect, identified as Justin Edmond Pard, 20, a transient from SLO, yelled profanities at the victim and fled the store after the assault. Police received news of the suspect’s whereabouts about 45 minutes later from a neighboring business owner who saw the suspect at Barnes and Nobles bookstore.
The victim, who was taken to the suspect’s area, was able to identify him as the assailant. Police found a ten-inch fixed blade kitchen knife on Pard’s person during a search. Pard was transported and booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of assault and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger. His bail was set at $2,000. However, Pard was released from SLO County Jail with promise to appear in court.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. the same day, SLOPD received a call from Black Horse Espresso, 796 Foothill RD., regarding a male in their business acting strange and causing employees and customers to feel uncomfortable. The callers told police the male was possibly the same subject arrested earlier in the day for the assault downtown.
Upon officers’ arrival at the scene, they discovered the male suspect had left the area on foot. Officers searched the area for the suspect, who they believed was Pard. They found Pard around 11:50 p.m. sleeping behind the church located at 651 Foothill.
The property had several signs posted with “no trespassing”. When officer questioned Pard, he stated that he knew he was trespassing. Pard was arrested for trespassing and illegal lodging and he was booked with a $2000 bail. Pard was transported to SLO County Jail and will be held until he is able to post bail or arraigned in court.
Read More:
KTLA: Clerk in flip flop shop punched by man
KSBY: Downtown SLO employee punched in face by transient
