MARTINEZ — A man suspected of pointing a sawed off shotgun at a female acquaintance Thursday was arrested after he fled inside a Home Depot store and hit an employee with a bicycle trying to flee, police said.

The suspect was identified by police as James Lee Dryden, 33, of Martinez. The loaded shotgun was recovered inside a bag he tried to hide.

Martinez Sgt. Patrick Salamid said police were called at 12:37 p.m. Thursday to the area of the Home Depot on Arnold Drive for a report of a domestic disturbance, which turned out to be Dryden pointing the shotgun at a woman he knew. Salamid would not say exactly what the nature of their relationship was.

Police said the woman was later uncooperative and provided conflicting statements about what happened.

Dryden had a bicycle with him that he pushed into the Home Depot while holding a duffel bag that contained the shotgun. Officers surrounded the store and began to evacuate customers.

Salamid said Dryden tried to hide the bag containing the shotgun in the store before attempting to ride back outside.

When confronted by a concerned citizen and a store employee, Salamid added, Dryden threw the bicycle at the employee before officers finally subdued him inside the store. The employee was not injured.

The bag with the shotgun and other items were later recovered.

Dryden, who has had prior contacts with police, was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of possessing a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a loaded firearm in public, assault with a deadly weapon and violating probation. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.