© Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
Newsom was en route to NFL star Marshawn Lynch's Beastmode Barbershop and a pizza joint when the unidentified man approached his entourage, which included Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
The Bay Area News Group reported that the 54-year-old assailant — who hailed from nearby Berkeley — launched a water bottle at the polarizing politician before being subdued and arrested.
"This morning, the Governor was approached by an aggressive individual" read a statement from the California Highway Patrol, which provides his security. "Members of the Governor's security detail removed the Governor from the situation and the individual was arrested by CHP officers."
Newsom later quipped to reporters that the man had an unorthodox method of saying hello.
He was booked into Santa Rita jail on suspicion of "resisting an executive officer and assaulting a public official," according to the report.
Oakland, like many California cities, has had issues with homelessness in 2021.Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
The man's occupation was listed as "pumping gas," the site stated.
© Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images
Reader Comments
R.C.
Regarding "assaulting a public official" and "assaulting a peace officer (police)" charges (etc. if there are any other 'special' groups) I think there should just be plain "assault" no matter who it's against. A person's occupation shouldn't be a part of it. Individual cases should be considered separately and objectively without tacking on stigma in the charge, generally making it look worse to judges. Not to mention I also think enough police and public officials deserve to be assaulted that as a whole the law shouldn't consider them exceptional by default.