San Francisco officers arrested a man accused of attacking an elderly bus passenger and a physically disabled man earlier this week, according to police.
Around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, a 90-year-old man was riding a Muni bus traveling through Bryant and Thirds streets when someone punched and kicked him in the head several times before he fell to the ground. San Francisco police said.
The suspect fled before police and paramedics arrived, who treated the victim. The passenger was taken to a nearby hospital where he is being treated for life-threatening injuries.
Around 12:30 p.m., several witnesses called police and said they saw someone pushing a 68-year-old man with a walker at Cyril Magnin and Eddy streets near Hallidie Plaza. The victim hit his head on the ground. He was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers in the area of United Nations Plaza, who were aware of the attack, saw a man matching the witnesses’ description. When they approached the suspect, he fled and a chase ensued.
He was eventually arrested and identified as 27-year-old Jahad Antoine. He was booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of resisting or delaying arrest, elder abuse, assault likely to cause serious bodily injury, and numerous warrant violations.
Police alleged that Antoine was also the suspect in the attack on the Muni bus and booked him for suspected assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily harm, battery to a driver, driver or passenger on a bus, elder abuse and causing would cause major bodily harm. a person who is 70 years or older.
“These callous attacks on our most vulnerable community members are unconscionable,” Scott said in a statement Wednesday. “Fortunately, our officers were able to identify and quickly arrest the suspect. These types of attacks will never be tolerated in San Francisco, and we will do everything we can to bring justice to the victims in these cases.”
Police encouraged anyone with information about the attacks to contact them at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip to TIP411 and start the message with “SFPD.”
