Update: Police say Berkeley attack was felony hate crime
According to police, Aaron Crayford "directed an anti-LGBTQ slur at the victim" during the assault. The 75-year-old man sustained a head injury.
Update, Sunday, 3 p.m. Police have now classified a random attack against a pedestrian in South Berkeley on Saturday as a felony hate crime.
The incident sent the 75-year-old man to the hospital with a head injury, authorities said.
A second man, who is in his 30s, "suffered lacerations to his forearm and face" in a separate attack, police said.
Officers responded Saturday just after 4:30 p.m. to Sacramento Street and Dwight Way to investigate reports of a man in his 30s who was "randomly assaulting two pedestrians."
Police arrived quickly and arrested the suspect, who was identified via booking records as 44-year-old Aaron Crayford.
According to police, Crayford "directed an anti-LGBTQ slur" at the older victim during the attack.
As of Saturday night, he was described as "alert, conscious, and in stable condition."
In addition to a felony hate crime, Crayford was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony battery and felony elder abuse as well as two misdemeanors: battery and disobeying a court order, according to jail records.
According to court records, Crayford had been released on his own recognizance after being charged with misdemeanor prowling and giving false information to a police officer in August. No further details about that case were immediately available.
He is set for arraignment in the new case Wednesday. His bail has been set at $90,000.
The Scanner has requested a booking photograph and will update this story when it is available.
Original story: Berkeley police have arrested a man who attacked two people on Sacramento Street for no reason Saturday evening, authorities report.
At least one of the victims was taken to the hospital for assessment, Berkeley police said at about 5:10 p.m.
Police were called to Sacramento Street at Dwight Way at about 4:30 p.m. after getting a report about a man who had hit two people while walking down the street, authorities said.
Officers responded quickly and arrested him, BPD said.
One Scanner reader estimated that there were about 15 police and other emergency vehicles at Sacramento and Dwight as of about 4:50 p.m.
"Lots of police cars with lights on Sacramento, and lots more no lights on Dwight parked. East of Sacramento," they wrote.
Another who also saw the activity said the scene appeared to be clear by about 5:05 p.m.
The Scanner will update this story when more details are available.
