The alleged attacker was identified as 59-year-old Mamikon Shushanyan.
FOLSOM, Calif. — A 59-year-old transient man was arrested on a felony battery charge with a hate crime enhancement after police say they attacked a woman Tuesday.
The Folsom Police Department said in a press release that just before noon Tuesday, a 911 call came in about a "man acting erratically near the Sutter Street parking garage." Callers said the man was "waving his arms, pacing and yelling at people." Police go on to say that during the call the man attacked a woman walking by "kicking her after he pushed her to the ground."
Police say the caller jumped into action restraining the man while officers responded to the scene.
"Officers learned that the man had used a racial epithet toward the victim prior to the attack. The crime initially appeared to officers to be a misdemeanor battery, with a hate crime enhancement," police said. "During a follow-up investigation, the officers learned that the attack had resulted in a fracture, which elevated the crime to a felony. "
The alleged attacker was identified by police as 59-year-old Mamikon Shushanyan. He was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at about 11:50 a.m., Folsom Police received a 911 call about a man acting erratically near the Sutter Street parking garage. The man was waving his arms, pacing and yelling at people in the area. While Folsom Police dispatchers were on the phone with a caller reporting the incident, the man reportedly attacked an adult woman walking by, kicking her after he pushed her to the ground. The caller intervened and restrained the man while officers rushed to the scene and detained the man. Another passersby in the area helped the victim and stayed with her until officers arrived. A nearby security camera captured the assault from a distance before they disappeared behind a bus.
Officers learned that the man had used a racial epithet toward the victim prior to the attack. The crime initially appeared to officers to be a misdemeanor battery, with a hate crime enhancement. The man, Mamikon Shushanyan, 59, transient, was arrested for the misdemeanor and released on citation, per California law. During a follow-up investigation, the officers learned that the attack had resulted in a fracture, which elevated the crime to a felony. On Wednesday, March 20, officers searched for and located Mr. Shushanyan. He was arrested on the felony battery charge with a hate crime enhancement and booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
While we always caution residents about physically intervening to stop a crime in progress, in this case, the assistance from people in the area was very valuable to protect the victim and stop the assault.
Posted by Folsom Police Department on Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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