A homeless Petaluma man was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly punching a 76-year-old man several times and then beating him with the man's cane following an argument over a cigarette.
Petaluma police officers responded just after noon on a report of an assault that just occurred at the south end of Hopper Street.
Once on scene, police found the elderly man sitting in a nearby field, who told them what happened. He said he had been punched several times, which caused a laceration to his face. He added that the suspect then took his cane and started hitting him with it several times.
The suspect, Telesfaro Duran, 58, was detained in a homeless encampment in a nearby field. Duran confirmed to police that there was an argument with the victim over a cigarette. Duran was subsequently arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse due to the victim's age.
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Duran was taken to Sonoma County Jail and booked on the charges.
The victim was treated at the scene by the Petaluma Fire Department, then taken to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
