An afternoon at a Bay Area winery turned into a crime scene after a man allegedly tried to set a fire, threw a wine bottle at staff, fled in a Tesla, then intentionally crashed into two parked cars.
The incident took place at Saratoga’s Garrod Farms, which operates as an equestrian stable and a winery called Cooper-Garrod. The suspect, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, is 42-year-old Beri Vikram of Menlo Park, founder of BetterLYF Wellness, an online mental health platform.
On Saturday afternoon, Garrod Farms staff confronted Vikram when it appeared that he was attempting to start a fire, the Sheriff’s Office said. He then fled in a Tesla, according to authorities, colliding with two cars allegedly on purpose. One of the cars was sent over an embankment.
The suspect allegedly threw a bottle of wine at staff before fleeing in a Tesla. (Courtesy Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office)
The sheriff’s office said that Vikram locked himself in his Tesla and “refused to surrender.” Deputies used pepperball and spray to get him out of the vehicle, the office said.
After being arrested, Vikram was taken to a hospital. He was later booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
This article originally published at Mental health startup founder allegedly tried to set fire at Bay Area winery before intentionally crashing Tesla.
