Police have detained a man who barricaded himself inside a gas station office in San Francisco’s Castro District for more than an hour this morning while a store clerk hid in the bathroom, a police spokesman said.
Officers responded to the Chevron gas station at 2399 Market St. around 10:40 a.m. after employees at the station said a man was acting erratically and in a threatening manner, police spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak said.
The clerk locked the door to the mini-mart store, but the suspect slammed his body against the glass door, breaking it, Andraychak said.
A female employee then rushed into the bathroom and locked the door while the suspect went into a back office and refused to come out.
Police cordoned off the gas station and brought in crisis negotiators. At 12:02 p.m., the man opened the office door and surrendered, Andraychak said.
At one point as the situation was unfolding, he had shown authorities a small knife and held it against his wrist, indicating he might slash himself, Andraychak said.
The man, described as in his 30s, told police he is from Livingston, Calif., He was detained and will undergo a mental health evaluation, Andraychak said.
The female employee emerged from the restroom unharmed.
No injuries were reported.
Operations at the gas station resumed around 12:15 p.m.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News
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