Assault with a deadly mannequin: Berkeley security guard charged with attacking co-workers on the job

The 26-year-old armed security guard was arrested for allegedly throwing a metal mannequin and other items at co-workers after they told him to leave.

BERKELEY — An armed security guard at a local clothing store has been charged with assault and vandalism for allegedly throwing a metal mannequin and other items at his co-workers after they told him to leave, court records show.

Lykai Cawthon, 26, of San Leandro, was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of committing $624.58 worth of vandalism, both felonies. He is not in custody and has not yet entered a plea, according to court records.

Cawthon was arrested Feb. 8 after his co-workers at a clothing store on the 2500 block of Telegraph Avenue called police on him. The co-workers reported that Cawthon had been making inappropriate comments to customers all day, and that when they asked him to leave that afternoon, he became irate and violent, authorities said.

Berkeley police say Cawthon threw a metal mannequin at two of the employees, striking them both, along with a metal tape dispenser and a plastic case. He allegedly slapped one employee and shoved another. The victims reportedly suffered minor injuries, including scratches.

The employees reported Cawthon left, then returned, struck one of them again, and then exited the store for good, according to police. Five days after the incident, police showed up to Cawthon’s apartment in San Leandro, where he gave them permission to seize three firearms registered him, pursuant to a gun violence restraining order, authorities said.

Cawthon was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s office on Feb. 16.