Suspect caught on camera assaulting sleeping unhoused man outside Fresno business

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A search is underway for a suspect who assaulted an unhoused man in Fresno's Tower District in August.

The attack happened around 2 am on Monday, August 26 in the area of Olive and Maroa avenues.

Fresno police say a 47-year-old man was sleeping in front of a business when someone started kicking him in the head.

Two weeks later, Fresno police released surveillance footage, showing a man violently kicking the victim.

Action News has edited the video to hide the blows, but you can still see the suspect.

A witness called police, saying the man had kicked the victim in the head several times and then ran off down Olive Avenue.

Paul Cruikshank owns Ragin' Records just around the corner from where the attack happened.

Monday was the first time he had heard about it and saw the video.

"That's crazy. What kind of person does that," asked Cruikshank. "I don't know how these people react to homeless people and think they can do that, but it happens and it's just, it is shocking. It's still shocking and it should be shocking."

Until the man is caught, police say others could be at risk.

"I would be concerned of this suspect doing the same thing to other people, like other unhoused members," said Fresno Police Officer Luke Tran.

Cruikshank plans to share the video himself and says he's hopeful about the power of his community.

"This is one community that will come together faster than any other community in Fresno to get things done," said Cruikshank. "And if the video is good enough, we'll figure out who he is."

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Fresno Police Department.

You can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.

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