By Sara Beth Williams–
New information has emerged regarding an assault that took place on Aug. 20 at a local shopping center on the corner of Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard, shedding additional light on the incident.
Through interviews and public records obtained by The Sentinel, the suspect in the assault has been identified as 40-year-old Michael Cavalier.
Homeless advocate Alfred Sanchez, known as “Snack Man” because he provides snacks, hygiene supplies, and resources to the unhoused in the area of Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard, said Cavalier is a known transient in the area.
Sanchez said he has also previously interacted with the victim of the assault and that the suspect and the victim were acquainted with each other. Sanchez did not know why the assault took place as he was not at the scene.
Police incident logs show an assault with a weapon was reported at Dollar Tree on Greenback Lane on Aug. 20 around 2:24 p.m. Video taken by The Sentinel at 2:25 p.m. shows police interacting with a man who was holding a knife or other sharp object to his neck. Police cruisers can be seen in the video following the suspect, who was walking in the middle of Auburn Boulevard shouting at police, and officers can be heard calling to the man, using the name Michael.
Westbound lanes on Auburn Boulevard were temporarily closed as police cruisers followed the man through the middle of the street, warning multiple times that force would be used against him if he did not put down the weapon in his hand.
Citrus Heights Police Department arrest logs show Cavalier was arrested on Aug. 20 for assault with a weapon. Main jail records show Cavalier was booked on Aug. 20 and is still in custody.
Records show Cavalier is ineligible for bail and is charged with battery leading to serious bodily injury, resisting a peace officer by force or violence, and brandishing a weapon while resisting arrest.
Past arrest log records for Cavalier show an arrest in Citrus Heights in April 2026 for the possession of controlled substances. Following April’s arrest, records show Cavalier was arrested multiple times by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department in April, May, and July for outstanding warrants. Records also show Cavalier had several arrests in 2022 and three in 2025, with both Citrus Heights Police and Sacramento County.
Immediately following the incident, Sentinel staff observed a large police presence at the shopping plaza on the corner of Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard. Witnesses later reported that the building was taped off.
Citrus Heights Police Sgt. Eric Dias told The Sentinel on Aug. 20 that the suspect was taken into custody and that the incident did not result in any shooting or involve gunfire. Police scanner radio traffic indicated the assault was the result of one man punching the other man.
Police later confirmed that only a portion of the building was taped off and that the store was able to remain open for business during the day following the incident.
Information obtained from a public records request shows at least 27 police personnel responded to the scene at some point, according to the report, including seven detectives, two crime-scene investigators, five sergeants, and two lieutenants plus a K-9 officer. Sgt. David Jones informed The Sentinel on Aug. 21 that multiple officers were already in the vicinity across the street on another assignment and were able to respond to the assault “within minutes.”
The Citrus Heights Police Department previously confirmed that the victim who was assaulted was in critical condition as of Aug. 22. On Monday, Aug. 24, a department spokesperson said the victim was in stable condition. Citrus Heights Police did not release the name of the victim. Sanchez told The Sentinel earlier this week that the victim was still in the hospital, but that he did not know the victim’s condition.
The Sentinel requested and received a public records request promptly within one business day.
In response to a request for body camera footage and 911 audio, Citrus Heights Police Public Records did not disclose the requested media information, saying in a statement, “The City has determined that the audio and footage collected for this incident is exempt from disclosure pursuant to California Government Code § 7923.600(a).”
