Multiple people arrested after 89-year-old Salinas man attacked walking home from church
Multiple people were arrested by Salinas police in connection to an attack on an elderly man.
Police said at around 8:40 a.m. on Friday, an 89-year-old man was walking home from church near Williams Road and Bardin Way when he was attacked. Officers said a man came out of a home near the corner of Williams Road and Bardin Way and punched the man in the face. They said the man was knocked to the ground and the suspect continued to punch and kick the victim in the upper torso and head.
Police said they believe the suspect was pulled away from the victim by a family member and that they ran off and left the man on the sidewalk. They said the same family member went back and helped the victim to his house where police were called.
Because the attack was sudden and unprovoked, the victim was not able to give police a good description of the suspect. The victim’s family members took him to the hospital where he was treated for a fractured orbital bone and other bumps and bruises. He was later released.
Detectives were able to get video and identify a few witnesses. Based on that evidence, they identified the suspect as 23-year-old Moses Hernandez. They tried to contact Hernandez, but said his family did not cooperate. Officers were given a “Be on the Lookout” for Hernandez.
At around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, patrol officers tried to stop a 15-year-old bicyclist for a vehicle violation. They said the teen refused to stop and was chased to the 1400 block of Bardin Way. The officers said that while they were trying to detain the teen, Hernandez came out of a nearby house and tried to interfere with the officers. They recognized Hernandez and tried to arrest him. The officers said Hernandez fought with them and tried to resist arrest. They also said that Hernandez’s parents, 50-year-old Luis Hernandez and 53-year-old Norma Hernandez tried to step in and prevent the arrest. All four were taken into police custody.
Moses Hernandez is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious bodily injury, elder abuse, resisting arrest and probation violation. Luis and Norma Hernandez are charged with resisting/interfering with a police officer. All three are booked into the Monterey County Jail. The teen was cited and released to a relative.
If you have any information about the attack, you are asked to call Detective Alex Rodriguez at 831-758-7269 or email him at alejandror@ci.salinas.ca.us.
