Sebastopol man arrested on suspicion of swinging chain at drivers

A Sebastopol man was arrested Friday on suspicion of swinging a heavy chain at drivers in a parking lot, police said.

A woman called police at 2:50 p.m. and reported a man was sitting on his bicycle, swinging the chain in a threatening manner at drivers in the Safeway parking lot, Sebastopol police Officer Joe Furry said.

Mark Stevenson, 57, was wearing a chain across his body when officers arrived, Furry said. He denied swinging the chain and told officers he was just trying to lock the bicycle, Furry said.

He was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a weapon in a rude or threatening manner, a misdemeanor.

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.