Shopper pepper-sprays Walmart worker, threatens cops with knife, California police say

A man armed with a knife and pepper spray assaulted an employee inside a Walmart store, then confronted police in a parking lot, California authorities reported.

Officers tackled the man after he dropped the knife but refused to surrender in the incident at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, Rohnert Park police said in a news release.

Police received a report of a fight in the electronics section of a Walmart during which a man had an employee on the ground and had pepper-sprayed him, officers said.

When officers arrived, they found the man holding a large knife in the store parking lot, police said.

A standoff ensued when he initially refused to drop the knife, police said.

After eventually dropping the knife, the man refused orders to surrender, so officers tackled and restrained him, police said.

Randolf Knoblock, 45, of Santa Rosa faces charges of assault with pepper spray and assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

Two customers were treated for exposure to pepper spray, police said. They said it’s not known what provoked the conflict.

Rohnert Park is about a 50-mile drive northwest from San Francisco.

This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Shopper pepper-sprays Walmart worker, threatens cops with knife, California police say."