Woman interferes with arrest of robbery suspect who escapes. Cops wrestle woman to ground, arrest her — and now she's looking to talk to a lawyer.



After a woman interfered in the arrest of a robbery suspect in San Jose, the suspect managed to escape from cops — and with that, police turned on the woman, wrestling her to the ground and arresting her.

And believe it or not, the woman says she's filing a complaint against police and will speak to an attorney.

What are the details?

Police said an organized retail crime mob had just robbed the Macy's at the Oakridge Mall on Saturday night, but two store security guards detained one of the suspects, KNTV-TV reported.

However, investigators told the station other suspects returned and "violently" beat up one of the guards, according to Sgt. Christian Camarillo of the San Jose Police Department, who said they "pulled her hair" and "punched her" and "kicked her in the head."

'Heartbroken' bystander helps crook

But after arriving officers handcuffed the robbery suspect, a "heartbroken" woman identified as Abeer Hamed decided to get involved, KNTV said.

Hamed, in red plaid shirt, approaches police who have detained robbery suspectImage source: KNTV-TV video screenshot

“You just see two cops running toward him like crazy," Hamed recounted to the station, adding that police "just pushed him to the glass and throw him to the ground, like really slammed him hard. For me seeing this as a mother, I was like heartbroken.”

Cellphone video shows officers repeatedly telling Hamed to back off, KNTV said.

Image source: KNTV-TV video screenshot

And while cops began dealing with Hamed, police said the robbery suspect got away.

One might say she paid for the decision.

Image source: KNTV-TV video screenshot

Image source: KNTV-TV video screenshot

“He slammed me really hard to the ground," Hamed told KNTV of the officer who went after her while she showed her bruised face to a video camera — along with her scraped elbow that she said "really hurts badly, too."

Image source: KNTV-TV video screenshot

Police spokesman Camarillo didn't seem sympathetic, as he told the station "that female who inserted herself in that situation was subsequently arrested for aiding the escape of a person who was lawfully detained by a police officer, assault on an officer, and delaying an officer as well."

Hamed, 43, also allegedly resisted by swinging an arm at an officer, police told KPIX-TV, which added that Hamed was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.

Filing complaint? Talking to lawyer?

Despite what certainly appears to be an obvious error in judgment, Hamed told KNTV she's planning to file a complaint and talk to a lawyer.

Police told the station they welcome the scrutiny — and Camarillo emphasized how serious Hamed's actions were: “It took one person inserting themselves into this situation that allowed a suspect to escape."

He added to KGO-TV that "arresting this one suspect could've helped our investigation to identify the rest of these folks. That didn't happen, obviously, because this one person interfered with this arrest. We still don't understand what caused this person to go over there and interfere. If somebody sees something that they don't agree with or thinks is excessive, there's mechanisms for that, right? We have our internal affairs department, we have our internal police auditor. Please, please do not insert yourself into one of these arrest situations."

Portland man accused of two murders was jailed days prior for interfering with police at protest — but that charge was dropped the next day, and he was let go



A Portland man accused of double murder was arrested just days before for interfering with police during a protest — but the charge related to the protest was dismissed the next day, and he was released from jail, KOIN-TV reported.

What are the details?

Cassy Leaton, 22, and Najaf "Nate" Hobbs, 39, were stabbed to death June 16, and police arrested Phillip Lawrence Nelson two days later, the station said, adding that the suspect faces two murder charges and is being held without bail.

Cassy Leaton and Najaf "Nate" HobbsImage source: Portland Police Bureau

But on June 12, Nelson was arrested at a protest in downtown Portland on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a peace officer, KOIN said, citing court records. However, that charge was dismissed the next day, the station said. Booking information indicates Nelson was released from the Multnomah County Detention Center.

This summer, Portland protesters routinely have been released in such a fashion following their arrests. As the Oregonian reported:

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has said his office won't pursue demonstrators accused of interfering with police and disorderly conduct, among other charges, if the allegations don't involve "deliberate'' property damage, theft or force against another person, or threats of force.

As for the murders, KOIN reported that they may have stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the suspect and victims. Leaton and Hobbs' roommate told police they were renting a unit in a fourplex from Nelson, who claimed to be the owner of the building, the station said, citing court records. But when the three roommates learned Nelson actually was squatting there, the trio changed the locks to their unit, which angered Nelson, KOIN reported, citing records.

More from the station:

On the afternoon they were murdered, surveillance video captured Hobbs and Leaton going into the basement of the building, where the water control is located, according to court records. The pair came back upstairs, but then went back just a minute later. Shortly after that, surveillance video captured Leaton running out of the basement, stumbling and shouting for help before falling down. Bystanders rushed to her aid, but she did not survive.

Both Leaton and Hobbs had been stabbed numerous times, according to the medical examiner. A police officer said he found Hobbs' body on the stairs, with a trail of blood leading to the basement. The officer also allegedly found a long-bladed knife and "significant amount of blood" inside the basement.

Nelson listed the lower left unit of the fourplex as his address the night he was arrested at the protest, police said. The surveillance video from June 16 allegedly captured him leaving through the back door of that unit after the stabbing, as bystanders were trying to save Leaton. Detectives found blood stains on the inside and outside handles of the door, according to court records.

Nelson told authorities he had been homeless, living in the Portland area for the two months before the crime, KOIN reported, citing court records for the murder arrest. His next court appearance is scheduled on Sept. 28, the station said.