A San Luis Obispo transient was arrested for suspicion of attempted carjacking, burglary and assault after going berserk and causing a violent incident at a shopping center in SLO.

At about 7 p.m. Monday, March 14, police said they got several 9-11- calls regarding a man trying to steal a woman’s car while she was parked in the Laguna Village Shopping Center, 11560 Los Osos Valley Rd.

The 20-year-old woman was parked outside the Nautical Bean coffee shop when the man tried to force his way into her car, apparently to steal it. He reportedly grabbed the door handle but she locked the doors first.

Police said the man tried to break the door window with his elbow but was unable to. The woman was not injured in the incident.

More 9-1-1 callers said the suspect entered the Nautical Bean, where he allegedly punched another woman, a 22-year-old store employee, in the face, as she was locking the front door. The employee was knocked to the ground and suffered minor facial injuries.

SLOPD Sgt. Chad Pfarr said the suspect and the woman had no earlier encounters before the alleged assault. With police on the way, another store employee came to her defense.

“A male employee,” Sgt. Pfarr said, “who saw the assault, grabbed a large kitchen knife from the back of the business in order to protect himself and his injured coworker.”

When the armed employee entered the front part of the business the suspect fled and the employee gave chase, calling 9-1-1 to give police the location of the suspect, who ran down Madonna Road.

Police caught up to the alleged assailant at the Post Office on Dalidio Road, Sgt. Pfarr said, and he was arrested.

Police said Albert Ramirez, 40, described as a local transient was arrested for suspicion of attempted carjacking, burglary and assault and booked into SLO County Jail.