Kmart employee arrested after assaulting police officer
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police took a Kmart employee into custody on Tuesday night after he fought with other employees and customers and assaulted a police officer.
Travis Ashlyn Salminen, 18, of Kelseyville, was arrested for battery on a peace officer, resisting an executive officer by force, obstructing/resisting arrest, and assault and battery, according to the Lakeport Police Department.
Just before 6:15 p.m. Tuesday two of Lakeport Police’s newest officers, Kaylene Strugnell and Casey Debolt, responded to Kmart on a report of a physical altercation inside the store, according to a report from Lt. Jason Ferguson.
When they arrived, Strugnell and Debolt were contacted by an employee outside the store who alerted them to another employee, identified as Salminen, who was involved in the physical altercation and was inside the store, Ferguson said.
Ferguson said Officer Strugnell entered the store and located Salminen with his shirt off, walking near the men’s clothing aisle.
Officer Strugnell repeatedly told Salminen to come to her but he refused and continued to walk toward the front of the store. After further attempts to contact Salminen he quickly ran towards the front doors, refusing to obey Officer Strugnell’s orders to stop, according to Ferguson.
Ferguson said Strugnell and Debolt pursued Salminen on foot as he continued to run through the parking lot and toward O’Reilly Auto Parts on S. Main Street.
As Officer Debolt caught up to Salminen and got within arm’s reach, Salminen turned around, cellphone in hand, and punched Debolt in the face with his fist, which was holding the cellphone, Ferguson said.
As the struggle went to the ground, Salminen repeatedly struck Officer Debolt in the back of his head with his fists. Ferguson said while Debolt was trying to subdue Salminen, Salminen bit Debolt’s left hand, causing injury.
Salminen was eventually taken into custody by Strugnell after Taser deployment, Ferguson said.
Salminen was transported to the Hill Road Jail where he was booked, with bail set at $15,000. Booking records showed he remained in custody on Wednesday evening. He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
Officer Debolt was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital on Tuesday and treated for his injuries. He was released a short time later, Ferguson said.
During the course of the investigation, Ferguson said officers learned Salminen was a loss prevention officer at Kmart at the time of the incident, was being verbally disrespectful toward another employee and throwing items on the ground.
When confronted by a customer, both Salminen and the customer became engaged in a physical altercation. As fellow employees attempted to break up the fight, they were assaulted by Salminen, Ferguson said.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.