The unexpected attack took place near a historic site, with City Councilman Dom Belza, Police Chief Christian Sachs, and two congressional staffers present. The suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Derek Hopkins, reportedly struck the mayor without warning before fleeing the scene, according to Councilman Belza.
As reported by the Daily Caller, Belza immediately gave chase to the alleged assailant, who turned and punched him as well. "I saw the attacker take off running down the street, so instinct kicked in, and I ran after the attacker," Belza shared. Despite the unexpected counter-attack, the councilman managed to subdue Hopkins until the police arrived. Hopkins now faces multiple charges, including elder abuse and assault of a public office holder, both felonies. The judge has reportedly set his bail at $50,000.
September 05, 2024
Belza linked the incident to what he termed as "soft on crime" policies in California. "It speaks to a much bigger issue in the state. This attack is really a result of the soft-on-crime policy that California has implemented over the last 10 years," Belza stated. He specifically pointed to the state’s Proposition 47, which reclassified several felonies as misdemeanors. "Prop 47 is the anchor of that soft on crime," he added.
TORONTO MAN FLEW TO SEATTLE TO THREATEN SENATOR WITH EXPLOSIVE VIOLENCE
The councilman also took aim at Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris, the former Attorney General of California. "She was the one who really pushed this heavily, and since then, we’ve just seen crime go rampant in California," he criticized. Belza expressed concern that smaller communities like Marysville are bearing the brunt of these policies. "We’ve just seen a huge increase in those types of crime, not to mention the increase in hard crimes, like murders," he lamented.
WATCH: THIS IS WHAT LIBERALS TEACH THEIR KIDS
This incident underscores the growing concern over the impact of "soft on crime" policies on public safety. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of these policies in protecting public officials and ordinary citizens alike from violent crimes. As the debate continues, it is clear that the consequences of these policies are being felt in communities across California.
