Alleged Antioch Store Thief Attacks Security Guards With Box Cutter

ANTIOCH - A 58-year-old man allegedly attacked an Antioch department store's security guards with a box cutter after he was caught stealing Monday afternoon, according to police.

Antioch police were first alerted to an incident at the J.C. Penney store on Slatten Ranch Road at 12:08 p.m. Monday.

Responding officers learned that the store's plainclothes security guards observed a suspect putting clothing into his backpack inside the store.

The guards confronted the man, later identified by police as Antioch resident Tony Cotton, when he allegedly left the store without paying for the merchandise, police said.

Cotton refused to return to the store and a scuffle ensued when the security guards attempted to make a citizen's arrest, according to police.

Police said Cotton brandished a box cutter and allegedly assaulted the guards with it. The guards suffered minor lacerations but only one later required medical attention, police said.

Cotton was eventually put in handcuffs and brought back into the store, police said, and the merchandise was recovered.

Cotton was arrested by police on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

Tony Cotton was temporarily held at the Antioch Police Department before he was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

The case remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Antioch police at (925) 778-2441.

-Bay City News