Today, June 21, at 10:50 a.m., Alameda Police received a call from the manager at T.J. Maxx. They reported that there was a person in the store who took two steak knives from store shelves and was continuing to walk around the store with them. The person in question then walked behind the sales counter and refused to leave the area.
[1]The manager stated they suspected the person was experiencing a mental crisis. In response, APD sent four officers to respond and requested the help of the CARE Team [2].
Once Alameda Police officers arrived on scene, they contacted the person in distress inside of the store. The person was in possession of the two steak knives, approximately four inches in length, that he took from one of the shelves. APD officers determined he needed to be evaluated by a mental health professional and did not arrest the man. The man in question never used the knives to threaten anyone nor did he cause any property damage to the store.
Store personnel evacuated customers and staff inside of the store before APD arrived and kept the store closed after the officers and the CARE Team [3] left.