Man arrested for assault at Hope's Corner

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Police arrested a 56-year-old man at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday after he allegedly attacked an elderly woman during the church’s weekly homeless food services provided by the nonprofit Hope’s Corner.

The suspect, a San Jose resident, was visiting the church for Hope’s Corner services, which provides food and showers for homeless and needy residents every Saturday morning. Witnesses told police that the suspect allegedly punched the women in the back of the head for no apparent reason, screamed at her and walked away, according to police spokeswoman Katie Nelson.

Bob Lee, a Hope’s Corner board member who witnessed the attack, said that the suspect is a homeless man who had been coming to Hope’s Corner for years, and that he seemed unstable and volunteers suspected him of having a mental health disorder. Lee said he was outside the shower facility when he saw the suspect punch the victim the head as she was heading toward the parking lot gate.

Lee said he called 911 and followed the man as he left Trinity United Methodist Church towards Castro street. Officers arrived and arrested the man without incident, he said.

The attack caused the victim to fall to the ground, but she did not require medical attention, Nelson said. The elderly woman, also a client at Hope’s Corner, did not speak English, but was told through a Mandarin interpreter that she would be safe.

“Through the interpreter we made sure she knew that we were sorry and she’s welcome to come anytime, and that (the suspect) isn’t allowed to come back,” Lee said.

The man was arrested on suspicion of elder abuse and booked into Santa Clara County jail with a bail set at $100,000.

Although there have been small arguments among the hundreds of homeless and needy residents who come through the doors each Saturday at Hope’s Corner, Lee said an assault leading to an arrest is a first for the nonprofit, which has had a quiet presence in the downtown community since 2011.

“In all the six-and-a-half years we’ve been here, we’ve had people have disagreements but we’ve never had anyone do this before,” he said.