Houston Police Arrest Man Accused Of Punching Elderly Woman

HOUSTON — A man who was caught on camera sucker-punching an elderly woman outside of a grocery store, has been arrested, officials said. Houston Police said Richard Derwin Howard has been charged with injury to the elderly in the 179th District Court.

Howard, 51, is accused of punching 88-year-old Mary Rutkowski while she and her daughter were leaving the HEB store at 5225 Buffalo Speedway on March 8.

The unprovoked assault was captured on video surveillance and showed Howard sitting in a wheelchair outside of the store by a display of outdoor plants, punching Rutkowski in the face as she walks past him.

READ ALSO: Have You Seen Him? Man Sucker Punches Elderly Woman Leaving HEB

As Rutowski falls to the ground, her daughter and other startled onlookers rush over to help, while Howard casually gets out of the wheelchair and pushes it through the parking lot.

Howard, who is homeless, was arrested in April for attacking an elderly man. He was charged with injury to an elderly individual, which is a felony, police said.

This year alone, Howard has been three times for assault. On March 23, two weeks after the attack on Rutkowski, Howard allegedly punched a man in the face while they were both riding a METRO bus, KPRC reported.

He is expected in court on July 1.

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