Capitol Alert

Man charged with assaulting Gavin Newsom in Oakland after ‘aggressive’ behavior, CHP says

Graffiti Pizza executive chef Matt Molina, left, looks on as California Gov. Gavin Newsom tries a slice of pizza during a visit in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, June 17, 2021. A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting Newsom during his visit to downtown Oakland, authorities said Friday, June 18. Newsom was walking to a barbershop and pizzeria in Old Oakland to promote small businesses when he was “approached by an aggressive individual,” said Fran Clader, director of communications for the California Highway Patrol, which provides security for the governor. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group via AP)
Graffiti Pizza executive chef Matt Molina, left, looks on as California Gov. Gavin Newsom tries a slice of pizza during a visit in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, June 17, 2021. A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting Newsom during his visit to downtown Oakland, authorities said Friday, June 18. Newsom was walking to a barbershop and pizzeria in Old Oakland to promote small businesses when he was “approached by an aggressive individual,” said Fran Clader, director of communications for the California Highway Patrol, which provides security for the governor. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group via AP) Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group

California Highway Patrol officers arrested and charged a man with assaulting Gov. Gavin Newsom in Oakland on Thursday after he approached the governor aggressively, CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said.

“Yesterday morning, the Governor was approached by an aggressive individual. Members of the Governor’s security detail removed the Governor from the situation and the individual was arrested by CHP officers,” Clader wrote in an email to The Bee. “The California Highway Patrol is investigating this incident.”

Newsom was visiting small businesses in the city for a press conference.

Officers arrested a 54-year-old Berkeley man and charged him with resisting an executive officer and with assaulting a public official, Clader said.

Newsom did not appear to be harmed and continued on normally with the event.

“Just a gentleman wanted to say hello,” Newsom said when asked by reporters about the incident. “We all have our different ways of expressing ourselves.”

The man is booked in Santa Rita Jail, according to Alameda County records. His bail is set at $35,000.00.

This story was originally published June 18, 2021 at 10:58 AM.

SB
Sophia Bollag
The Sacramento Bee
Sophia Bollag was a reporter for The Sacramento Bee’s Capitol Bureau.
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