Authorities are asking for help to find an man who got into an argument with a 20-year-old trolley passenger and hit him in the face with a metal water bottle in early November.
The assault occurred on an eastbound trolley near the 62nd Street/Encanto trolley station shortly before 1:45 p.m. on Nov. 1. The attack left the victim with a fractured orbital, a broken nose, swelling and bruising to his face, San Diego police spokesperson Mark Herring said.
Police are seeking this man, seen in surveillance photos, who is wanted in connection with an assault on a trolley passenger on Nov. 1.
(The San Diego Police Department)
The victim and assailant did not know each other, said police Detective Edwin Alvarado. He said the two got into an argument over the assailant causing a disturbance, and the man punched the victim in the face.
The attack was captured by a surveillance camera, Alvarado said.
After the fight, the victim sat down facing away from the assailant, who then used a metal water bottle to strike him twice in the face, police said.
“The victim was hospitalized but has since been discharged and recovered from his injuries,” Alvarado said in an email.
Trolley security was not present at the time of the attack, he said.
Two people died following attacks on trolley platforms in late August in incidents trolley officials called “random acts of violence.” In October, a trolley passenger was sliced across his chest when he was attacked at a La Jolla trolley station. A woman was arrested in that case and charged with attempted murder.
Trolley officials have taken steps to beef up security after hearing about rider concerns about safety.
Police are seeking this man, seen in surveillance photos, who is wanted in connection with an assault on a trolley passenger on Nov. 1.
(The San Diego Police Department)
The suspect in the Nov. 1 attack was last seen walking away from the 62nd Street and Encanto trolley platform, police said.
He was described as being between 28 to 32 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 165 pounds. He was wearing a white beanie cap, white T-shirt, brown pants and white sneakers. He possibly had three dots tattooed under his left eye, with an unknown tattoo on his left forearm, police said.
Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspect was asked to call SDPD’s Southeastern Division at (619) 527-3517 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
