Elderly Man Attacked At Transit Center, Suspect Arrested

TACOMA, WA — The Pierce County Sheriff's Department says its deputies have arrested a suspect in a recent attack on an elderly man in downtown Tacoma.

According to witnesses, just before 1 p.m. Thursday the suspect approached an 83-year-old man at the Commerce Street Transit Center in Tacoma. Before they could speak, the suspect punched the older man, knocking him to the ground. The assailant then demanded money from the victim, who said he had none.

Following the attack, the suspect fled, empty-handed, towards Pacific Avenue.

The following day, the sheriff's department and Crime Stoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County put out a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to the suspect's arrest. It's unclear if that call for tips worked, but the sheriff's department confirmed Monday that a suspect had been arrested, and booked into the Pierce County Jail for first degree robbery.