Man Charged After 'Violently' Dumping Man Out Of Wheelchair: Cops

PLEASANT HILL, CA — A San Ramon man has been charged with attempted kidnapping and assault after police say he dumped a man out of a wheelchair in an incident at a Target store that was caught on video. Thirty-two-year-old Jimmie Rinard Tiger II was arrested on a warrant in connection with the Jan. 11 incident at Target, 560 Contra Costa Blvd., officials with the Pleasant Hill Police Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said this week.

"The victim in this case is a member of our functional needs community and requires the use of a wheelchair," Pleasant Hill police Lt. Scott Vermillion said. "The victim confronted a motorist who was unlawfully parked in a parking stall reserved for people with mobility impairments. The victim then entered Target."

The victim was inside Target at the Customer Service counter when a man later identified as Tiger "demanded the victim go back out to the parking lot and apologize to his wife regarding the parking disagreement," Vermillion said.

When the victim declined to go back outside or to further engage in an argument, Tiger is accused of forcibly starting to wheel the victim out of the store against his will. Police say when the victim resisted, Tiger "violently lifted the victim’s wheelchair from the side, throwing the victim down onto the floor," according to witness statements and Target surveillance video of the incident.

Witnesses cared for the victim until help arrived, and also provided a partial license plate number for Tiger's car, police said.

Pleasant Hill police detectives verified the complete license plate number, which allowed them to identify Tiger as the suspect, Vermillion said.

Police submitted their case Jan. 17 to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, which in turn filed charges against Tiger of attempted kidnapping and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, with a special allegation of great bodily injury, the lieutenant said.

An arrest warrant was issued, and Tiger was taken into custody Jan. 19 with the help of San Ramon police.

The Contra Costa County DA's Office confirmed the charges against Tiger, and said the defendant pleaded not guilty to both felony charges during a Jan. 21 court appearance. Tiger's bail was set at $180,000, according to Scott Alonso, spokesman for the DA's Office.

A search of jail records Wednesday indicated Tiger has since been released from custody.