Redding store clerk charged with using hatchet to attack customer, police said

A 38-year-old Redding store clerk was arrested on Thursday after he used a hatchet to injure a man who was in the store, Redding police said in a Facebook post late Thursday evening.

Store clerk Chase Ricks of Redding is accused of attacking a man who was inside the mini-mart located in the 4600 block of Westside Road on Thursday at 6:38 p.m., police said.

According to police, Ricks became "upset" with 27-year-old Joshua Emerson-Merte of Redding and asked him to leave the store. When Emerson-Merte did not immediately leave, Ricks reached behind the counter and pulled out a hatchet, police said.

Police said Ricks swung the hatchet and cut Emerson-Merte, who was attempting to leave the store, in the forearm.

Ricks followed Emerson-Merte to his car, striking the man's vehicle several times with the hatchet, police said. Ricks then went back inside the mini-mart, according to police.

Emerson-Merte called for police assistance and then took himself to the hospital for medical treatment, authorities said. He was later released.

Police responded to the mini-mart, where they seized the hatchet and interviewed Ricks.

Ricks was booked into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Redding Police Department at 530-225-4200.

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding store clerk attacked customer with a hatchet, police said