A Palo Alto teenager who allegedly smashed a glass jar over the head of an adult acquaintance during a dispute over marijuana and then broke into a Barron Park home to avoid the police was booked 36 hours after the beating when he turned himself in.
The 17-year-old resident, whose name the police are not releasing because he is a minor, was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly clashed with an adult at Bol Park on June 30. Police said the two met at the park shortly before 1:30 p.m. and got into an argument over marijuana. The adult, a male in his late teens, was reportedly sitting in his vehicle, which was parked along Laguna Avenue, when the youth took a glass jar and began hitting the car with it, causing damage.
Police said the victim then got out of the car to try to stop the vandalism. That's when the youth allegedly hit the adult at least once with the glass jar, breaking it over his head. The youth then ran away along Barron Creek, while the adult called 911, police said. Paramedics from the Palo Alto Fire Department arrived shortly after the jar beating to treat the victim for minor injuries, which did not require hospitalization. Police said a small amount of marijuana was located at the scene.
About three hours after the assault, as police were canvassing the area and searching for the suspect, an officer observed him running on the 3700 block of La Calle Court, near Barron Avenue. At around the same time, police dispatchers received a call about a burglar alarm going off at a residence on the block. Officers converged on the residence, according to the police, but the youth managed to escape into adjoining yards.
Police believe he had entered the home by opening a window in the backyard and exited from a side door after being startled by the alarm. Nothing was taken from the home, which police said was unoccupied at the time of the entry.
The youth continued to elude police until 1:20 a.m. on July 2 when he walked into the police station to turn himself in, police said. In addition to the felony assault, the 17-year-old male is facing a burglary charge, (also a felony) as well as misdemeanor charges of vandalism (for smashing his acquaintance's car) and prowling (for fleeing onto other people's properties without lawful purpose).
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the police department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.
Comments
College Terrace
on Jul 13, 2015 at 1:08 pm
on Jul 13, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Who was the seller, and who was the buyer? As the parent of a Palo Alto teenager, I'd be happy if the seller is arrested, even if he was the one injured.
Professorville
on Jul 13, 2015 at 3:22 pm
on Jul 13, 2015 at 3:22 pm
"Police: Teen smashed jar over man's head during dispute over pot"
How doggedly pedestrian. Where have the headline artists gone? How about:
Pothead potted on head over pot
Man potted by pot in pot dispute
Charleston Gardens
on Jul 14, 2015 at 7:59 am
on Jul 14, 2015 at 7:59 am
Hey Polly, I understand your sentiment and agree that the headline had potential. However, since you wouldn't call everyone who has a glass of wine with dinner an alcoholic; why refer to someone as a "pothead"?
All this does is perpetuate the unjustified stigmatization of the 122 million Americans who use or have tried cannabis.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jul 14, 2015 at 9:13 am
on Jul 14, 2015 at 9:13 am
>> " However, since you wouldn't call everyone who has a glass of wine with dinner an alcoholic; why refer to someone as a "pothead"? "
If I ever get in a street fight over a glass of wine, feel free to call me an alcoholic.
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 14, 2015 at 9:55 am
on Jul 14, 2015 at 9:55 am
[Post removed.]
Professorville
on Jul 14, 2015 at 12:10 pm
on Jul 14, 2015 at 12:10 pm
"since you wouldn't call everyone who has a glass of wine with dinner an alcoholic; why refer to someone as a "pothead"? "
It depends on their condition. After consuming enough glasses of wine, they may become potted.
But golly, if we went PC over everything, we'd never have the classic STIX NIX HIX PIX.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jul 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm
on Jul 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm
>> "It depends on their condition. After consuming enough glasses of wine, they may become potted."
In which case we could call them a potted-head.
Barron Park
on Jul 14, 2015 at 12:23 pm
on Jul 14, 2015 at 12:23 pm
[Post removed.]
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 14, 2015 at 4:01 pm
on Jul 14, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Ok. How did a stoned 17 year old escape? This whole thing is Jarring.
Registered user
Community Center
on Jul 14, 2015 at 7:10 pm
Registered user
on Jul 14, 2015 at 7:10 pm
TIme to lock this thread, it has gone to pot.
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 14, 2015 at 8:39 pm
on Jul 14, 2015 at 8:39 pm
I believe this may very well be the Best thread in PA online history.
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 15, 2015 at 5:52 pm
on Jul 15, 2015 at 5:52 pm
it has been a joint effort.