Media Relations

Deputies Arrest Combative Naked Man

Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested and booked Robert Lopez, 37, of Kingsburg into the Fresno County Jail. His bail has been set at $66,000.

He faces felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, resisting arrest and a misdemeanor for indecent exposure.

Around 7:00 pm on Wednesday, a deputy was dispatched to the 400 block of 6th Avenue Drive in Kingsburg regarding a man, Robert Lopez, who was watering his lawn while naked. Lopez is known to be hostile toward law enforcement, so a Kingsburg Police officer was requested to assist on the call. The deputy and officer found Lopez in his yard drinking beer. The deputy told Lopez he needed to put on some clothing, but he refused. He cursed at the deputy and threw the glass bottle at him. Fortunately, the bottle only hit a chain link fence which the deputy was standing behind for protection. Lopez then made deadly threats to the deputy, including that he would get a gun and shoot him. Additional deputies were then dispatched to the home due to the fact that the situation was escalating.

Lopez put on a pair of shorts and then went inside his house. Since Lopez had made threats of using a gun, the deputy retrieved a rifle from his car for protection. Less than a minute after being in the home, Lopez came out holding a knife with an eight inch blade. Lopez took about 10 steps toward the deputy and the deputy ordered him to stop and drop the knife or he would be shot. Lopez did drop the knife, but continued to shout threats. He then picked up the knife and threw it at the deputy, but again it only hit the fence that the deputy was standing behind. The deputy moved the knife further out of Lopez’ reach and assisting deputies arrived. Lopez walked closer to the fence and threw another beer bottle toward deputies. At this time, an assisting deputy fired a bean bag round from his less than lethal shotgun, striking Lopez in the stomach. Lopez fell to the ground and deputies were able to place him in handcuffs.

An ambulance transported Lopez to a hospital for evaluation. Once that was completed, he was booked into jail.

Anyone with additional information on the suspect in this case should call the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center at (559) 600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867). You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Suspect's Knife

Suspect's beer bottle