Man, 18, arrested after reported LGBTQ hate crime and assault at Blaze Pizza in Roseville

An 18-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection to what law enforcement called a hate incident last month at Blaze Pizza in Roseville, in which three men allegedly beat up employees who had hung an LGBTQ+ Pride flag on their premises.

The suspect faces a misdemeanor hate crime charge and felony assault charge, according to Placer County jail records. Lt. Chris Ciampa, a spokesman for the Roseville Police Department, said investigators are still searching for two more suspects, accused of inflicting injuries on employees during the Sept. 19 incident.

The 18-year-old suspect came to Blaze Pizza at the Highland Reserve Marketplace that evening to pick up an order when he noticed a Pride flag. He ripped down the flag and threw it on the ground, Ciampa said.

The manager and employees attempted to confront the suspect when he yelled a homophobic slur and left the business, police said.

But the suspect returned with two other men and, police said, began a physical alteration with two employees. One victim suffered facial injuries and was taken to a hospital, Ciampa said.

The trio left the scene before police arrived.

The 18-year-old man, a Lincoln resident, was arrested at his home and booked into the South Placer Jail. As of Tuesday afternoon he did not yet have a scheduled court appearance listed in Placer Superior Court or in online jail logs.