Chaotic scene in central Fresno: Man robbed, officer injured in fight

Fresno police dealt with a chaotic scene Thursday afternoon outside Uncle Tom’s liquor store in central Fresno, eventually arresting a man who fought with officers but wasn’t involved in the incident that started it all.

Lt. Joe Gomez said two young males are on the loose, getting away with $14 they stole from a man who was sitting on the sidewalk near the store counting his money.

Gomez said the males beat up the man when he resisted the robbery. Officers arriving to a call for help found the man crumpled in the parking lot. Witnesses pointed police to a man they said was armed and in the El Super market catty-corner from Uncle Tom’s at the intersection of First and Tulare streets.

That man resisted arrest, fighting with officers, grabbing a Taser out of a sergeant’s hand (Gomez said the sergeant might’ve suffered a sprained thumb) and holding out longer even after other officers jolted him. Once he was under control, officers determined that he was only a witness to the robbery but had a replica gun.

It wasn’t the only replica gun officers found, Gomez said. While canvassing the neighborhood looking for the robbers, officers detained another man with a replica gun, also not involved in the robbery.

No one involved in the incidents was identified. Gomez said the robbery victim refused hospital treatment.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Chaotic scene in central Fresno: Man robbed, officer injured in fight."