Bakersfield Man Arrested After Pepper Spraying Family in Food 4 Less Parking Lot

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – A 38-year-old Bakersfield man was arrested after pepper spraying a family of adults and children after an argument in a Food 4 Less parking lot Thursday afternoon.

On July 30, around 11:45 a.m., officers were dispatched for a report of an incident in a parking lot at the Food 4 Less on Higuera Street stated a press release from the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

According to San Luis Obispo Police, a family of five adults and two minors got into an argument with a 38-year-old Bakersfield man and during the argument, an adult member of the family retrieved and displayed pepper spray.

The 38-year-old man retreated to his own vehicle, returned to the scene with his own pepper spray, and sprayed the family before leaving the area once law enforcement was contacted detailed the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

The family members were treated at the scene by medical responders and a countywide alert was issued for the Bakersfield man explained the local police department.

The 38-year-old was later located in Avila Beach by members of the California Highway Patrol and Port San Luis Harbor Patrol and he was taken into custody shared the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

According to the local law enforcement agency, the Bakersfield man was found to have an improperly stored handgun in his vehicle and he was booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of felony child abuse, misdemeanor unlawful use of pepper spray, and misdemeanor improper storage of a firearm in a vehicle.

Anyone with more information about this incident is asked to contact Officer Bracy at 805-594-8087 or you can report your information while remaining anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867.