REDWOOD CITY — A 37-year-old Redwood City man was arrested on suspicion of randomly assaulting three people, including an elderly man, Wednesday in San Mateo County, authorities said.
The first attack occurred around 7:40 a.m. in the parking lot of the Grocery Outlet at 1833 Broadway in Redwood City, the Redwood City Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said in separate news releases.
The victim – identified as a 78-year-old man – was sitting in his car when the suspect repeatedly punched him in the face “without warning,” authorities said.
About 20 minutes later, the same suspect punched a woman “for no apparent reason” as she arrived for work at the San Mateo County Hall of Justice at 400 County Center in Redwood City, authorities said.
“While these victims have no connection to the suspect, it appears that the same suspect is responsible,” Redwood City police said in their news release. “Redwood City police officers obtained video surveillance footage of each incident and confirmed that the same individual was responsible for each incident.”
A third attack was reported around 5:20 p.m. in the 2500 block of Middlefield Road in the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks.
Officers searched the area and located the suspect. He was arrested and turned over to Redwood City police, who then booked him into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on multiple charges, including elder abuse and battery.
The suspect has an extensive criminal history and was on parole for a previous felony assault case, authorities said.
