California Man Accused of Assaulting Wheelchair-Bound Victim After Using Disabled Parking Spot at Target

A California man has been arrested on suspicion of attacking a victim in a wheelchair after getting into an argument about a disabled parking space.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department said they were called to reports of an assault which occurred inside a Target store on January 11.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the alleged victim, a member of the functional needs community who requires the use of a wheelchair, being treated by medical personnel.

Prior to the alleged attack, the man in the wheelchair had confronted a motorist who had illegally parked outside in a disabled spot.

The victim then went inside the Target store to the customer service counter, where he was approached by the suspect, identified as Jimmie Tiger of San Ramon.

Police said Tiger then demanded the man return to the parking lot and apologize to his wife about the argument. The victim refused, saying he did not want to start another confrontation.

Surveillance footage from inside the store shows the suspect speaking to the man in the wheelchair at the counter for several seconds.

The suspect then forcibly tries to wheel the victim outside against his will, before violently flipping him out of his wheelchair and walking away.

Witnesses to the attack cared for the victim unit a medical team arrived.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department were able to obtain a partial license plate from the vehicle of the suspect. Following an investigation, a complete license plate was uncovered and was used to identify Tiger as the alleged culprit.

After presenting the case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, an arrest warrant was issued for Tiger on January 17.

Two days later, officers from the San Ramon Police Department assisted with this case and served the warrant on Tiger, before taking him into custody and charged him with attempted kidnapping and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

"This case demonstrates the benefits we all experience when community members and law enforcement work together to find a quick resolution for cases such as this," the Pleasant Hill Police Department said in a statement.

According to the East Bay Times, Tiger pleaded not guilty to the charges last week and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in court on January 30.

The surveillance footage of the incident shows one Target employee briefly confronting the suspect, but no security guards arrive at the scene.

Newsweek has reached out to Target and both police departments for comment.