San Luis Obispo police arrest man after downtown bar fight
– San Luis Obispo Police arrested a Nipomo man early Sunday morning after he was involved in an attempted robbery and assault with a knife near the 600 block of Marsh Street.
Around 1:39 a.m., staff at The Mark flagged down an officer for assistance in removing a disorderly male patron who was reportedly cussing at employees. Officers identified the individual as 28-year-old Giovani Palombi. He was removed from the premises, advised of a no trespass order and released.
Approximately 15 minutes later, police were dispatched to a reported fight near McCarthy’s. Investigators determined that after leaving The Mark, Palombi approached a male walking along Marsh Street and attempted to take a bag the man was holding. The victim punched Palombi several times in the face while pulling the bag away. During the struggle, cash from the bag fell to the ground.
According to police, Palombi then pulled a pocketknife from his pants and attempted to slash the victim’s neck. The knife blade was turned in the opposite direction, preventing serious injury. The victim pushed Palombi to the ground, where Palombi began picking up some of the cash.
Palombi then made another slashing motion toward the victim before walking eastbound toward McCarthy’s. Officers detained him in front of the bar and arrested him for felony robbery and felony assault with a deadly weapon.