Guerneville Man Arrested for Alleged Unprovoked Assault of Elderly Man
GUERNEVILLE, CA — “On August 15, 2026,at approximately 11:00a.m., Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an assault near Main Street and Church Street in Guerneville.
When deputies arrived, they found a 74-year-old man being treated by Sonoma County Fire personnel. Deputies learned the victim had been walking across Main Street when a man approached him and, without apparent provocation, struck him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect then kicked the victim in the chest while he was on the ground.
Multiple witnesses provided deputies with a description of the suspect and reported seeing him walk toward the Guerneville pedestrian bridge following the assault. Deputies located a man matching that description on the bridge and identified him as 27-year-old Justin Hawkins, a transient.
When deputies attempted to detain Hawkins, he refused commands and physically resisted. Deputies used force to gain control of Hawkins and safely take him into custody.
Hawkins was evaluated by medical personnel and later transported to a hospital for treatment of minor abrasions before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges including:
• 148(a)(1)PC- Resisting arrest
• 243(d)PC- Battery with serious injury
• 368(b)(1)PC- Cause physical injury to someone over 65 years old.
Deputies also determined Hawkins had an outstanding warrant from Mendocino County.
The victim was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
We appreciate the witnesses who remained at the scene, provided information to deputies, and helped us quickly locate the suspect. Their willingness to step forward, along with the coordinated response from our public safety partners, helped bring this incident to a safe resolution.”
