Bend PD: Man who threatened restaurant workers with knife arrested

A 23-year-old man went to a northeast Bend Taco Bell to confront his girlfriend Friday afternoon, but when he learned she was not at work, he grabbed a kitchen knife, threatened two employees and ran, police said. He was caught nearby, they said, but intentionally hit his head on the rear of the police car, prompting a detour to the hospital and more trouble with officers there before going to jail.

Police were called around 4:15 p.m. to the Taco Bell at 533 Northeast Bellevue Drive by someone who reported a man was trying to attack an employee with a seven-inch knife, said Lt. Jason Maniscalco.

The man, who police identified as Ahren Antonio Lopez-Bierer, ran from the business as officers responded, but was found near the Church of the Nazarene on 27 th Street and taken into custody without incident, Maniscalco said.

Officers learned Lopez-Bierer had gone to the restaurant to confront his girlfriend, who works there, the lieutenant said. When he learned she wasn’t working at the time, he entered the employee area to use the phone.

When he was confronted about being in the employee area, Lopez-Bierer picked up a large kitchen knife from the business and threatened two employees, then fled with the knife, Maniscalco said. Officers later found the knife in the grassy area of a nearby business.

Maniscalco said Lopez-Bierer intentionally struck his head on the rear portion of the police car while being taken to the Deschutes County jail, causing a head injury. He was taken to St. Charles Bend – and while there, he “intentionally exposed officers to blood-borne pathogens,” the officer said in a news release, not offering more specifics.

Lopez-Bierer eventually was taken to jail, where he was held on $46,000 bail, facing charges of menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree theft and aggravated harassment, the latter involving using body fluids or a dangerous substance against public safety officers.

Maniscalco said it also was determined Lopez-Bierer was involved in a fight with a roommate on Thursday, so he also was lodged on an arrest warrant regarding the prior incident.