Transient Mark McCawley is being arraigned Thursday for assault and theft at a South San Francisco Salvation Army.
While out of custody on a pending felony on August 22, 2012 McCawley, 43, entered the Salvation Army with two female accomplices – one being his girlfriend Bryce 'O Rourke – according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
They started filling purses with store merchandise. The manager saw what they were doing, confronted them, and told them to put the property down.
McCawley punched the manager, and tried to run, but the manager grabbed him. With the help of two customers, the manager held on to McCawley while the other customers the police.
O' Rourke tried to pull the manager away from him, chocking his neck. When he was unsuccessfull, he grabbed three handbags and ran out the store.
Police arrived and McCawley – who was wearing stolen pants with the price tag still on over his own pants – was verbally combative and spit at the officers.
McCawley – who remains in custody on a $200,000 bail – has a long criminal record, including a 2006 felony threats conviction. In November, he pleaded no contest to felony charges of possession of stolen property.
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