Police arrest Texas man for dousing woman with suspected bleach while she shopped, attacking officer

PALESTINE, Texas — A Texas man was arrested Saturday night after police say he threw a chemical substance into a woman’s eyes and then attacked an officer with a shopping cart.

Willie James Lewis, 37 of Oakwood, Texas, was booked into the Anderson County Jail for assault on a public servant, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, endangering a child, criminal mischief and two Palestine Municipal Court warrants, the Palestine News-Herald reported.

Palestine police Chief Mark Harcrow told the newspaper that Lewis reportedly approached a 49-year-old woman with two small children from behind and poured a cleaning agent believed to be bleach over her. He then allegedly moved in front of the victim, continuing to pour the cleaning solution on her, dousing her eyes.

The victim did not know her assailant, who left the store immediately following the attack, KLTV reported.

The children were unharmed in the incident, and the woman was transported to Palestine Regional Emergency Room by ambulance for medical treatment, the TV station reported.

According to responding officers, Lewis returned to the store, damaged a patrol car parked outside, followed an officer from the back to the front of the store and attacked him from behind with a shopping cart, the News-Herald reported.

Police said the motives behind the attack are still under investigation.

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