What started as a routine last Saturday grocery run in Lafayette reportedly turned into a parking lot dust-up that ended with bear spray in the air, shoppers coughing, and a 74-year-old Oakland woman in handcuffs on Highway 24.
Police say a driver allegedly fired bear spray from inside a vehicle during an argument in the parking lot of a grocery store on the 3600 block of Mount Diablo Boulevard, hitting multiple people. Eight people were exposed, according to authorities, and one person was taken to the hospital. Witnesses told officers the driver sprayed a second time while pulling away and were able to give police a license plate number and direction of travel, which helped them track down the car.
What the police say
According to the Lafayette Police Department, officers were dispatched to the grocery store parking lot after an argument between two people escalated. Investigators say one person pointed and sprayed bear spray out of the driver's side window at another person, then sprayed again while driving away. Witnesses at the scene stepped in as impromptu detectives, supplying that key license plate information and the direction the vehicle took off, which officers say helped them quickly identify the car.
Contra Costa County Fire crews responded and treated victims on site, and one person was transported to the hospital, according to the department's post.
Charges and legal context
Lafayette police say the driver was identified as Monica Thomas, 74, of Oakland, and that she was booked into county jail on charges that include assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful use of tear gas. Under California law, civilians may possess tear gas only for self‑defense. Using it for any other purpose is a criminal offense that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, with potential penalties of up to three years in state prison. Per California Penal Code 22810, penalties are tougher if the chemical agent is used against a peace officer.
Arrest and investigation
In its Facebook post, the Lafayette Police Department says Orinda officers later located and detained the driver of the vehicle on westbound Highway 24 before she was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility. Police are now working to sort through witness accounts and any available photos or videos as part of an active investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has recordings is asked to contact Lafayette dispatch at 9-1-1 for emergencies or the non-emergency line at 925-284-5010 to assist investigators. This story will be updated if formal charging documents or additional information are released.
