Man charged with attack on Berkeley homeless man in 2023
Police said the homeless man who was attacked suffers from mild cognitive issues, which may include dementia.
A man who had been facing hate crime charges in Berkeley is now back in jail in connection with an attack on a homeless man last year, according to court papers.
On Jan. 31, 57-year-old Ross Wolfer (no address) was charged with the downtown Berkeley attack, which took place in April 2023 at Shattuck Avenue and Center Street, according to court papers.
On April 23 at about 2:30 p.m., Berkeley police wrote, Wolfer walked up to a man who was sitting on the ground at BART plaza and "began kicking him without provocation" after reacting to a book the man had with him.
According to police, Wolfer then grabbed the man's duffel bag and hurled it down the BART escalator. Then he knocked over the man's shopping carts, spilling their contents all over the ground, police wrote.
In charging papers, Berkeley police said the homeless man who was attacked suffers from mild cognitive issues, which may include dementia.
After his arrest, police wrote, Wolfer said he had attacked the man because his belongings were "spiritually oppressive."
Wolfer is currently on probation for using a hose to flood an optometrist's office through the mail slot, police wrote.
Emilie Raguso
He was also charged last year with hate crimes and elder abuse while confronting several people in North Berkeley in May.
According to BPD, a woman called police after Wolfer threw a wooden plank and a bottle at a 75-year-old man while making anti-Asian and antisemitic comments.
Wolfer also broke out the rear window of the man's car and threw concrete pavers at a 70-year-old woman standing on her porch, BPD said.
According to BPD, Wolfer then ran toward a man and his children who were also in the area. They moved into a fenced yard for safety, but Wolfer threw onions at them while yelling, "I'm gonna kill you" repeatedly and making antisemitic slurs.
Ross Wolfer in 2023. BPD
BPD said Wolfer then went into the Berkeley Friends Church at 1600 Sacramento St. and damaged a glass door while continuing to yell that he would kill people.
According to court records, Wolfer was held to answer on the hate crime case last year. It is now moving toward trial.
As of this week, he remains in custody with a bail of $90,000, according to booking records.
Wolfer is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the new case on Feb. 27.
