Anger over closed doughnut shop sets off SoCal man’s rampage, police say
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- Simi Valley police arrested Frank Blessing on Wednesday morning after they said the 58-year-old ran his sport utility vehicle into a doughnut shop.
- He later allegedly rammed a police cruiser while attacking an officer, before being arrested.
- Blessing was booked on several felonies, including attempted murder, assault on a peace officer, resisting an executive officer, vandalism and driving under the influence.
A Ventura County man is accused of creating his own version of a doughnut hole Wednesday morning — in a Simi Valley storefront.
Simi Valley police arrested Frank Blessing after they said the 58-year-old rampaged his sport utility vehicle through the front of a doughnut shop, leaving a gaping opening at the entrance. Authorities said he later rammed a police cruiser while attacking an officer, before being taken into custody.
Blessing was booked on several felonies, including attempted murder, assault on a peace officer, resisting an executive officer, vandalism and driving under the influence.
Police believe Blessing was upset the doughnut shop was closed when he stopped by at 3:30 a.m.
An officer responding to a call pulled Blessing over around the corner from Donut Plus on Erringer Road. Police said the front of his Chevy Tahoe was significantly damaged.
When the officer stepped out of his vehicle, Blessing put the Tahoe in reverse and slammed into the police cruiser, according to Simi Valley police Sgt. Rick Morton, the department’s public information officer. He said Blessing pulled forward and reversed again into the cruiser as the officer fled for safety, then tried and failed to run him over.
Firefighters discovered some precious items after coming to the aid of a family whose home was destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire in Simi Valley this week.
Blessing then smashed into the wall of a nearby home, disabling his Tahoe, police said.
He was armed with a knife and was not compliant when arriving officers tried to detain him, but eventually was arrested after officers tased him, according to authorities.
The officer who was attacked suffered minor injuries, Morton said.
Though a suspect has not been identified in the slayings of a Simi Valley couple, police have linked the incident to a burning car and charred body found in Chino.
Surveillance footage from KTLA shows Blessing pull up to the doughnut shop and attempt to open the glass doors. He tugs at them for a few seconds before jumping into his Tahoe and ramming through an outdoor table and into the store.
Blessing appears to want to exit the vehicle but is unable to fully open his door as it is pinned by the table. He then struggles to reverse the SUV out of the store before eventually doing so.
The shop’s owner was inside preparing for business and was not injured, according to reports.
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