Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson hit with pie during scuffle at high school fundraising dinner

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was hit with a pie Wednesday night while attending a fundraising dinner at a high school, authorities said.

The assailant was taken into police custody at the event, held at Sacramento Charter High School, which Johnson’s nonprofit St. Hope Public Schools began operating a decade ago.

About 6:40 p.m., Johnson — listed as a host of the fundraiser — was approached by the man and hit with a pie, according to Crystal Strait, a spokeswoman for the mayor.

“The mayor was assaulted tonight,” Strait said.

Johnson tackled the assailant in a brief scuffle, the East Bay Express reported.

A Sacramento police officer in Johnson’s security detail requested assistance and eventually detained the man, according to a statement issued by the Sacramento Police Department.

Police identified the man as Sean Thompson, 32. Thompson suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment. It was unclear how he was injured.

Thompson was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a public official, a felony, and was expected to be booked into Sacramento County Jail. Police did not specify how Johnson was assaulted.

Johnson, who did not seek reelection this year, thanked police on Twitter, writing, “Appreciate everyone. I’m doing fine…. Be safe everyone.”

The mayor is a frequent guests at local events such as the dinner, officially known as the Seeds of Hope Harvest Dinner.

The gathering featured a prominent local chef and celebrated Edible Sac High, a program at Sacramento Charter High that aims to teach “food literacy.” It is modeled on Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project.

Myers reported from Sacramento; Hamilton, from Los Angeles.

john.myers@latimes.com

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

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