Alameda City Employee Snaps Photo, Suspect Arrested

ALAMEDA, CA — A city maintenance worker who was punched in the face Tuesday afternoon managed to take a photo of the attacker fleeing, leading officers to locate and arrest a suspect, Alameda police said.

The battery was reported at Rittler Park, where the worker encountered a man who "locked himself inside of a restroom for an extended period" before punching the victim.

The worker was able to take a photo of the man as he fled and gave it to officers, who circulated it to others responding to the area. A suspect was located in the 400 block of Willow Street.

Police said the suspect, who cooperated with officers, was positively identified by the victim.

The suspect, who was found to be on active post-release community supervision for statutory rape and had a warrant for violating the terms of his release, was taken into custody and booked for suspicion of battery.

Two teenage witnesses who had left the area before being interviewed later contacted police and provided more information about what happened, police said.

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