Santa Barbara man arrested for punching stroller-pushing grandfather in Calabasas
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One day after security camera footage showed a man sucker-punch another man who was pushing his infant grandchild in a stroller in Calabasas on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they arrested the attacker in Oxnard.
The victim, a man in his 60s, called the LASD Tuesday evening to report the incident, which happened in the 4000 block of Lost Spring Road, a spokesperson confirmed.
On Wednesday evening, the LASD announced they’d arrested 29-year-old Angel Sanchez Jr. in Oxnard on a charge of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.
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A video of the attack posted on Neighbors and shared with KTLA had rattled the community.
The clip showed the attacker walking up to the victim and hitting him squarely in the face with a left hook. The victim falls to the ground and the stroller, which contained the man’s 10-month-old grandchild, tumbles over.
His assailant then gets into a minivan parked in a driveway that does not belong to him and drives away, the video shows. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department later identified the vehicle as a silver 2005 Honda Odyssey with Nevada license plate No. 183W80.
A man seen punching another man pushing a stroller in Calabasas, CA. A man seen punching another man pushing a stroller in Calabasas, CA. A man seen punching another man pushing a stroller in Calabasas, California. Dec. 5, 2023. A man seen punching another man pushing a stroller in Calabasas, CA. A man seen punching another man pushing a stroller in Calabasas, CA. The LASD provided this photo of the van driven by an alleged assailant in Calabasas on Dec. 5, 2023.
The victim eventually stumbles back to his feet and uprights the stroller. Neighbors told KTLA 5’s Jacqueline Sarkissian that the man and the infant are both OK.
“It feels really random … this is a safe neighborhood and we’re all just absolutely horrified that something could happen here to someone doing something so innocent like walking their child,” said Greg Higa.
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“The man who was attacked is a very nice community member,” said Mary Steele, another neighbor. “He has a beautiful home, people know who he is and the baby is an innocent victim.”
Authorities also tied Sanchez to a previous attack in the 26000 block of Agoura Road.
Both victims are of Asian descent, but “the motive for the attacks is currently under investigation,” officials said.
Anyone with information should contact the LASD Malibu/Lost Hills Station at 818-878-1808.
To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
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