78-year-old assaulted on Wilshire Boulevard last week
By Sam Catanzaro
A man has been arrested for punching a senior in Santa Monica recently.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), the incident took place March 29 in the area of Wilshire Boulevard and 11th Street.
“SMPD Officers met with the victim, a 78-year-old male, who explained to them that he was walking down the street when a subject without any provocation or cause struck him in l the face with a closed fist,” the SMPD wrote in a press release.
According to the SMPD, the victim provided police a detailed description of the suspect and utilizing the information officers searched the surrounding area for the suspect and located Paul Anthony Turner, a 28-year-old Black male.
“Turner was identified by the victim and admitted to the assault before ultimately being placed under arrest,” the SMPD said.
On March 31 the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed one count of elder abuse and assault to produce great bodily injury against Turner. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bail at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Downtown Los Angeles. He will appear in court on April 15.
In February Turner was arrested in Compton for an unspecified misdemeanor citation, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department records show.
Anyone with additional information pertaining to this incident is strongly encouraged to contact Detective Holloway with the Criminal Investigations Division 310-458-8934 or Santa Monica Department’s Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.
