San Rafael McDonald’s Assault Suspect Arrested After Standoff

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A man accused of assaulting customers and an employee at a McDonald’s restaurant Sunday was arrested after an hours-long standoff, San Rafael police said.

Robert Michael Chernoff, 35 of Novato, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and harming a police K-9 unit among other charges after a standoff that lasted nearly four hours, police said.

Chernoff was treated for a bite wound on his arm before being booked into county jail, police said.

The K-9 suffered small scuff on its nose, police said.

No other injuries were reported.

Officers at around 1:50 p.m. responded to the Terra Linda McDonald’s on Merrydale Road on the report that Chernoff had verbally threatened and assaulted victims with an unknown aerosol spray, used hand strikes, and attempted to stab them with a knife, police said.

Arriving officers found Chernoff outside the restaurant, and they evacuated the restaurant and surrounding area after Chernoff refused to cooperate with orders to drop a knife, police said.

The SRPD established a perimeter to contain Chernoff with assistance from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

The safety perimeter caused the temporary closure of Merrydale Road, Willow Avenue, and Redwood Highway.

The San Rafael/Novato Regional Crisis Negotiation Team was summoned to negotiate with Chernoff.

“For almost four hours, numerous attempts were made to convince Chernoff to surrender peacefully,” the SRPD said in a statement.

“Chernoff instead continued to be uncooperative and became increasingly agitated.”

After determining negotiations were becoming futile, an arrest response team was established, police said.

“Before using the arrest team, additional warnings were given to Chernoff regarding the possible use of force should he choose not to surrender peacefully,” the SRPD said.

“Chernoff continued to be uncooperative and ignored commands, including orders to drop the knife, given by police personnel. When the arrest team approached Chernoff, they were forced to use less-than-lethal munitions and a police K-9.”

Chernoff was bit by the K-9 but broke free and then placed the K-9 into a headlock, police said.

“It appeared he was trying to choke the dog,” police said.

The arrest team deployed a Taser before arresting Chernoff.

Investigators are still trying to determine the motivation behind the attack.

The case has been forwarded to the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators are still trying to contact additional victims and witnesses.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call San Rafael Police at (415) 485-3000.

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