On April 13th, 60-year-old Gregory Hayes was caught stealing, assaulting a police officer, and yelling racial slurs at a Marathon gas station on North Riverside Drive. The clerk of the Marathon activated a silent alarm after Hayes stole a beer and snack cake. Officers encountered Hayes on North Riverside Drive walking with the stolen items in his backpack. Hayes began shouting racial slurs at the officers. Initially, Hayes clenched his fist and approached the officers but immediately backed away. Officers then noticed a hatchet by Hayes’s foot and put it on the hood of their car. Officers then told Hayes to turn around and place his hands behind his back to detain him, and Hayes proceeded to walk towards the hatchet.
Hayes was then transported to the Marathon to ask if they would like to press charges for shoplifting or trespassing. Hayes was trespassed and was taken out of cuffs. Hayes then immediately began flipping the cashier off and yelling racial slurs. Hayes also threatened to kick officers in the balls and spat on their patrol car. Hayes was then taken into custody again. While in the back of the police car, he spat on an officer out the window. Hayes was charged with disorderly conduct and simple assault against a first responder.
