Police: Robbery suspect punched victim in face, victim punched him back
A man has been arrested in connection to a recent series of violent incidents in Berkeley, according to police.
Shortly after noon on June 17, police were called to the scene of an alleged assault at the McDonald’s on Shattuck Avenue. A man had allegedly taken the eyeglasses right off a customer’s face as well as taking her phone. Police say that when she tried to get her things back, he punched her in the face. When she punched him back, he fled.
About ten minutes later, another alleged assault was reported just a few blocks away involving a suspect with a similar description. The suspect had allegedly struck a 78-year-old man in the head with a construction hardhat.
Responding officers quickly located and detained the suspect, whom police have publicly identified only as a 34-year-old man. His name has not been released.
As police began to investigate, they also connected the same suspect to the damaging of a trash can and hand sanitizer station at a bakery on Shattuck Avenue, as well as an incident in which someone threw a brick at a vehicle near Shattuck and Francisco.
The suspect was ultimately booked on suspicion of robbery, elder abuse, and vandalism.
