An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Assault following an unprovoked attack on an elderly victim. The Spokane Police Department reports that officers responded to the area of 3rd and Monroe for a report of an assault around 4 p.m. on May 18.
At the scene, officers found an elderly male victim suffering from significant bodily injuries due to an assault. The victim reported he had stopped to put mail in a mailbox when he heard a man yelling.
For unknown reasons, the suspect walked up and punched the victim in the face. The victim was knocked to the ground causing significant injury to one arm and the victim’s face. The suspect fled the area before officers arrived.
Major Crimes Unit detectives identified the suspect following an extensive investigation. Violent Crimes Task Force officers apprehended the suspect in the downtown area on May 30.
18-year-old Richard S. Smith was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of 2nd Degree Assault.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.