A violent incident unfolded in downtown Palo Alto on Thursday morning, culminating in the arrest of a man who wreaked havoc by shattering windows of three businesses, throwing rocks, and fleeing from police on foot. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Sheik Riaz Ali of East Palo Alto, is now facing multiple charges, police said.
On February 22, 2024, at approximately 10:54 a.m., Palo Alto's 24-hour dispatch center received reports of a man screaming and kicking storefronts in the 500 block of Emerson Street. As officers responded to the scene, additional calls poured in, detailing the suspect's destructive actions. Witnesses reported that the man had thrown rocks, breaking the front windows of Bare Bowls at 530 Emerson Street, Kitchen Nail Bar at 540 Emerson Street, and HE&C Tea + Pot at 544 Emerson Street. Disturbingly, callers also noted that the man was hurling rocks at pedestrians on the street.
An officer located the suspect on Lytton Avenue at High Street at 10:59 a.m. and attempted to detain him. However, the suspect fled on foot to the Palo Alto Transit Center at 95 University Avenue. Despite a brief escape onto a bus, the suspect was apprehended after a subsequent foot chase, police said. A search incident to arrest revealed suspected methamphetamine in the suspect's possession.
During the apprehension, one officer sustained minor injuries, including abrasions to the face and forearm, and lower back pain, police said.
Paramedics from the Palo Alto Fire Department treated and released the injured officer at the scene. Fortunately, the suspect emerged unscathed.
The investigation determined that the suspect caused more than $500 in damages to each of the three businesses, police said. Charges against Ali include three counts of felony vandalism, resisting an officer using force, resisting/delaying an officer, and possession of methamphetamine.
Palo Alto Police are seeking any additional information related to this incident. Witnesses or those with relevant details are urged to contact the 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be submitted via email to paloalto@tipnow.org or through text message or voicemail at (650) 383-8984.
