Man Arrested Following a Disturbance at a Downtown Berkeley Whole Foods
By Jim Emerson
BERKELEY — Vernon L. Richard, a 67-year-old resident of Berkeley, was arrested following
a disturbance at a downtown supermarket.
The violent incident occurred during the middle of
the afternoon on March 1, and resulted in the injury of a police officer.
Police were dispatched in response to a report of a “troublesome subject” at Whole Foods
Market on Telegraph Avenue. A man inside the store, later identified as Richard, allegedly
threatened store employees. He also allegedly made unsubstantiated statements about some
kind of “bomb.”
The incident turned violent after responding officers arrived at the supermarket. Richard
reportedly became combative when they first attempted to detain him.
Richard allegedly punched and attempted to grab a police baton from one of the officers.
During a struggle at least one officer sustained unspecified injuries. Calm was restored when
Richard was placed under arrest at 1:30 p.m.
Richard was transported and booked into Alameda County Santa Rita Jail at 4:29 p.m. He
remains locked up in lieu of $50,000 bond. His next scheduled court appearance is March 9.
Multiple charges filed against Richard include –
· Battery on an officer causing injury
· Resisting/obstructing an officer
· Making criminal threats
Richard has prior convictions and arrests on his record. He was convicted for assault with a
deadly weapon in 2021, and drug possession in 2008. In 2024, Richard was arrested for
trespassing on private property.
