25-year-old man arrested after randomly punching elderly men and stopping to pose for a casual photo taken by one of the victims

US News

By Stephen Sorace, Fox News

A California man who randomly beat two elderly victims in two separate incidents and posed for a photograph after one of the attacks was arrested Saturday, authorities said.

Nicholas Hostetler, 25, was identified in connection with the two attacks on elderly men in Campbell this month, Campbell police said.

In the first incident on May 4, Hostetler allegedly hit a victim on San Tomas Aquino Road before running away, police said.

However, the suspect stopped and posed casually on the sidewalk while the victim took a photo in hopes of identifying his alleged attacker.

Police posted the photo on social media and asked the public for help in identifying the suspect.

The second random attack occurred Friday morning as a 75-year-old man was walking in Campbell, police said.

Hostetler allegedly punched the victim in the face near Inwood Drive and Elam Avenue.

When the 75-year-old and his family returned to the area a short time later to look for surveillance cameras, they encountered Hostetler again, police said.

According to police, Hostetler attempted to fight the family before leaving the area.

Officers immediately began searching the area and soon identified Hostetler as the suspect.

Police contacted Hostetler’s parents on Saturday morning and with their help, Hostetler was able to leave his home and was arrested without incident.

While Hostetler was being booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on two counts of elder abuse, he allegedly kicked a police officer, authorities said.

Hostetler was also charged with assault on a public servant.

“We cannot thank our community enough for their cooperation in incidents such as these,” the department said. “We can assure you that our officers are working diligently to fully investigate these incidents.”