A California man is facing backlash online after allegedly pushing an elderly woman to the ground without apparent provocation. Police are now searching for the man.
The woman’s daughter shared two pictures of the man online under the title, “Felony Assault Suspect at Large.” She also provided details about what happened in the caption. According to her, the assault took place at 7:40 a.m. on October 27 outside Alkali Rye on Grand Avenue.
The daughter said she was walking with her mother on the sidewalk when the man allegedly came out of nowhere and pushed the elderly woman in the chest. The sudden force of the push caused her mother to fall and hit her head hard on the ground. According to the daughter, an ambulance took her mother to Highland Emergency Department, where she immediately underwent CT scans. “Thankfully she is doing okay today. It could’ve been SO MUCH worse and it’s my fear that someone else will be seriously injured,” she wrote.
When first responders arrived at the scene, police were unable to locate the man. However, they reportedly said they had enough information to arrest him if they found him. “Many locals have told me they’ve seen him around downtown and neighborhoods by the lake,” the daughter added.
What Happened Next
In addition to the alleged attack on her mother, the daughter said the man had been involved in another incident about two months earlier. He allegedly assaulted another community member by throwing a shoe at their head. Police responded to the scene at the time but did not take him into custody.
The daughter also expressed concern that the man could hurt someone else, saying, “It’s clear he’s not in his right mind and will hurt someone else.” She added that she had submitted an evidence form online and visited the police station in person. However, she had been unable to submit the video evidence to OPD.
The daughter also asked the community to help locate the man, writing, “I hope they’re looking for him but I think it would be really beneficial for the community to be looking for him & calling in his whereabouts.”
She also acknowledged the help they received after the attack, saying, “We had a group of amazing bystanders who helped take these photos and contacted 911. The man did return to us after the initial shove and who knows what would’ve happened if we didn’t have help to get my mom into a car for safety.”
Along with the post, the daughter shared security camera footage of the incident in a comment. It showed her walking with her mother when the man suddenly appeared, ran toward them, and pushed the elderly woman. The footage then showed the daughter checking on her mother as she lay on the sidewalk. There has been no update on whether the man has been arrested.
Viewers Slam California Man Over Assault on Elderly Woman
Many viewers online criticized the California man over the unprovoked attack on the elderly woman, with some expressing concern about the safety of people in the area. “I recognize this guy as I work on Harrison across from the lake. He’s usually talking or yelling to himself. Scary dude. Please be careful out there…,” one person wrote. Another commented, “Human debris. Mentally ill or not.”
Others expressed sympathy for the elderly woman and wished her a speedy recovery, while also condemning the man’s actions. “Hope your mom has a full recovery. It’s so dangerous for older people to fall. F that guy,” one person wrote. Another commented, “Wishing a speedy recovery to your Mom. I’m sorry this happened and I saved the post to reference if we see the individual.”
The incident raised concerns about public safety and the possibility of people being attacked without warning while going about their daily lives. It also highlighted the role community members can play in reporting suspicious behavior and sharing information that may help police identify suspects.
