REDWOOD CITY – A 37-year-old Redwood City man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting three people, including an elderly man, Wednesday in San Mateo County, according to authorities.
The first attack took place 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 punched him multiple times in the face “without warning,” according to authorities.
About 20 minutes later, the same suspect punched a woman “for no apparent reason” as she arrived at the San Mateo County Hall of Justice at 400 County Center in Redwood City, authorities said.
“Although these victims were not related to the suspect, it appeared that the same suspect was responsible,” Redwood City police said in their news release. “Redwood City officers obtained video surveillance from each incident and confirmed that the same person committed 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.
Deputies searched the area and located 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 count of aggravated assault, according to authorities.