Man arrested in Piedmont after attack on elderly shopkeeper and police chief

Piedmont police arrested 42-year-old Willie Gomer on Friday afternoon after he allegedly attacked an elderly customer at Ace Hardware and then the city’s police chief before attempting to flee.

Witnesses said Gomer, who is homeless and on parole for auto theft, theft, kidnapping and multiple parole violations, struck an elderly man from behind at the store on Grand Avenue. The victim lost consciousness and fell to the ground. The attack, which occurred around 4:30 p.m. in the normally quiet and affluent East Bay residential area, appeared to be random.

According to police, the suspect fled to the garden center in an attempt to avoid arrest. When he was located, he began fighting with police, refusing to obey their orders and appearing under the influence of drugs.

In an attempt to subdue him, officers used both pepper spray and a Taser. But the suspect removed the Taser prongs and fled to a nearby home on Sunnyslope Avenue, where he threatened the resident, police said.

He then ran onto Valle Vista Avenue, where he was confronted by Piedmont Police Chief Jeremy Bowers, who had responded to the scene.

The suspect ignored orders, jumped into the police chief’s car and tried to drive away. When Bowers got into the car to prevent Gomer’s escape, he was attacked.

Gomer was eventually taken into custody and removed from the chief’s car by additional Oakland Police Department units and a security guard.

He was arrested on charges of assault causing great bodily harm, injuring an older adult, assaulting a police officer, theft, burglary, carjacking, possession of narcotics and violation of parole.

The elderly victim was transported to hospital, his condition is unknown. An officer who was also injured in the incident was treated and taken to hospital.