Man accused of brandishing knife after stealing phone arrested

( KRON ) –  A man brandished a knife at a victim and stole a woman’s phone before using his bike as a getaway vehicle on Tuesday, according to the Colma Police Department.

The theft occurred in a business in the 3600 block of Junipero Serra Boulevard. An employee of the establishment noticed a man steal her cell phone. The suspect shoved the employee after she confronted him about stealing her phone, according to Colma PD.

Another employee approached the suspect as he was leaving the store, requesting he hand back the phone. Colma PD said the suspect shoved that employee as well.

The boyfriend of the employee whose phone was stolen approached the suspect to retrieve the phone. Police said the suspect grew violent and began to swing a knife back and forth toward the boyfriend. The suspect then fled on a bicycle.

Police were dispatched to the business at 5:40 p.m. Police were informed that the suspect was a man wearing a black sweatshirt with a black backpack. The suspect was also described as having a scar on his face.

Less than an hour later, Colma PD was dispatched to another theft at a business in the 1200 block of El Camino Real. Police were informed a male suspect, who arrived on a bike, was “concealing merchandise.” The suspect was detained by officers and positively identified as the man who stole the phone earlier that day.

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Juan Smith. According to Colma PD, Smith is an unhoused individual.

Colma police said Smith was carrying a knife and suspected methamphetamine.

Smith was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, battery and possession of a controlled substance.

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