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, according to authorities.
The first attack happened 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 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 punched him several times in the face “without warning,” according to authorities.
Roughly 20 minutes later, the same suspect punched a woman “for no apparent reason” as she was arriving for work at the San Mateo County Hall of Justice at 400 County Center in Redwood City, authorities said.
“While these victims had no relation to the suspect, it appeared the same suspect was responsible,” Redwood City police said in their news release. “Redwood City police officers obtained video surveillance from each incident and confirmed the same individual perpetrated each event.”
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.
Deputies searched the area and found the suspect. He was arrested and turned over to Redwood City police, who later booked him into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on multiple charges including elder abuse and assault and battery.
The suspect has an extensive criminal history and was on parole for a prior felony assault case, according to authorities.