A 27-year-old Traverse City man was arrested Thursday after randomly assaulting a gas station clerk as well as security staff at the Grand Traverse Mall.

Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office deputies responded to an assault complaint at the Shell gas station at the corner of South Airport and LaFranier roads in Garfield Township Thursday. Witnesses observed a man enter the store, walk behind the counter, and start punching the clerk, knocking him to the ground. A customer attempted to help the clerk, and was also punched several times. The suspect and victims did not know each other. No weapons were used in the assaults.

The suspect initially left the store on foot, then got into his vehicle and fled as deputies arrived. Deputies had obtained a photo of the suspect from dispatch en route to the gas station after a witness called in the suspect’s vehicle plate number. They were able to identify the man in his vehicle and pursued him, but terminated the pursuit on Hammond Road in the interest of public safety.

The suspect showed up at the Grand Traverse Mall a short time later and parked his vehicle on the sidewalk before walking inside. Deputies were called on a report of the subject being disorderly in the mall. Mall security asked the subject to leave, but he would not comply with requests and pushed the security guards. The security guards were able to detain the suspect until deputies arrived at the mall.

The man was taken into custody by deputies and transported to the Grand Traverse County Jail, where he was lodged for fleeing and eluding, aggravated assault, and operating under the influence of drugs. A blood sample was taken from the suspect to analyze the drug levels in his system.