Last Tuesday, an event unfolded in Colma that escalated from a simple theft to an encounter involving a knife and an eventual arrest for multiple charges. According to the Colma Police Department, at around 5:40 PM, officers responded to a reported robbery at a business on Junipero Serra Boulevard, where a male suspect had stolen a woman's cell phone and subsequently resorted to physical intimidation when confronted.
The suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Juan Smith, reportedly shoved the woman and left the premises, and when other individuals attempted to retrieve the stolen phone, he brandished a knife, swinging it towards one of them before making a getaway on a bicycle. Officials said the suspect wore a black sweatshirt and a backpack and was noted for a distinctive scar on his face. Following the initial incident, the police were alerted to another potential theft at 6:05 PM on El Camino Real. The suspect's description of the earlier robbery led to Smith’s detention at the second location.
Upon arrest, law enforcement confirmed that Smith's appearance matched that provided by the victims of the robbery and discovered what was believed to be methamphetamine, alongside the knife allegedly used in the assault, during a search. Smith, who is currently unhoused, faces charges of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, weapon brandishing, battery, and possession of a controlled substance, as per the Colma Police Department.
After being positively identified by all three victims related to the robbery, Smith was taken to the San Mateo County Jail.
