Berkeley woman, 81, punched amid downtown disturbance
Police called for emergency backup and asked BART to hold all trains for several minutes until they could arrest suspect Floydie Atkins.
A woman who punched an elderly woman after causing a disturbance in a downtown Berkeley restaurant was arrested Monday after fleeing into the BART station, police report.
The victim, who lives in the neighborhood, told police it was the second time she had been struck by a homeless person in downtown Berkeley in less than a week, authorities said.
The incident began at about 2:30 p.m. when witnesses called police about a woman who was throwing menus at people at a downtown Berkeley restaurant.
Restaurant staff indicated the woman might be having a mental health crisis, according to police and radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner.
As officers responded, the suspect took off running and fled into the downtown Berkeley BART station on Allston Way after punching an 81-year-old woman in front of a Berkeley police officer, according to police and radio traffic.
The victim sustained a visible injury to her face and was taken to the hospital, primarily as a precaution, authorities said.
Police classified the incident as felony elder abuse.
During the foot chase, police called for emergency backup and asked BART to hold all trains for several minutes until they could detain the suspect.
After making the arrest, authorities identified her as 41-year-old Floydie Atkins (no address).
Atkins is now being held at Berkeley Jail on $55,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday, according to booking records.
