Incident Sparks Debate Over California’s Crime Policies
In a shocking daytime incident, Marysville Mayor Chris Branscum was allegedly sucker-punched by a homeless man while assessing fire damage to a historic building. The attack, which occurred on August 22, has reignited discussions about California’s crime policies.
Attack details
Marysville City Councilman Dom Belza recounted the event. He, Mayor Branscum, Chief of Police Christian Sachs, and two congressional staffers for Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) were downtown when the attack occurred.
“We were standing on the sidewalk near the site having a casual conversation. An individual was crossing at the crosswalk. And right as he got to the mayor, who had his back turned, the individual reached back and swung and hit him right square in the back,” Belza said. “There was no communication, no altercation. There was nothing that instigated the punch. It was just a complete random act of violence.”
Mayor Branscum described the attack as “out of nowhere,” telling KCRA-TV that “I thought I was hit by a car.
“I was hit so hard. The next thing I know, there’s this guy sliding by me, running, and I yelled an expletive at him.”
Pursuit and arrest
Following the alleged attack, Belza said his “instincts kicked in” and he bolted after the fleeing suspect.
The suspect, who was later identified as 36-year-old Derek Hopkins, took off running after the incident.
“I saw the attacker take off running down the street, so instinct kicked in, and I ran after the attacker,” Belza said. “As I was gaining on him, and we were about halfway down the block, he turned around and saw me over his shoulder.”
Hopkins then stopped and came in for a second punch, successfully hitting Belza on the side of his head. “After that, I engaged him and took him down to the ground and restrained him until the chief of police was able to get there. We held him in custody until he was officially arrested,” Belza explained.
Hopkins is now facing eight charges, including felony assault of a public official and felony elder abuse, with bail set at $50,000.
Broader implications
Councilman Belza pointed to the incident as a symptom of a larger crime crisis in California, exacerbated by what he describes as lenient crime policies.
“In a bigger light and a larger picture of this whole situation, this is something that we’re dealing with on a regular basis,” he said. “Maybe not necessarily where an elected official gets attacked, but where there’s many more of these types of crimes and these types of attacks in communities across 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,” he said.
Belza specifically criticized Proposition 47, signed into law in November 2014, which reclassified six minor felony offenses as misdemeanors. “Prop 47 is the anchor of that soft on crime,” he said, attributing the legislation to then-Attorney General Kamala Harris. “She was the one who really pushed this heavily, and since then, we’ve just seen crime go rampant in California.”
Belza warned that the policies could have national implications. “I think we should all be really concerned that if she is running for president, or if she becomes president, that the entire nation is going to deal with the same issues that California is dealing with for the last 10 years. That should be a huge, huge concern for all of us.”
Local Impact and response
Despite its small size, Marysville has been forced to deal with the consequences of progressive legislation like Prop 47. “We’re a small community in Northern California, and we’ve been dealing with homelessness, substance abuse, vagrancy, loitering, and vandalism,” Belza said. He recounted an incident where a local coffee shop had a chair thrown through its window, indicating a rise in both minor and serious crimes.
Belza also disputed claims that violent crime has significantly declined in California, attributing the discrepancy to changes in crime reporting. “When you report it [crime] differently, it’s not necessarily that the crime is going down,” he explained. “What used to be reported as a felony, now is reported as a misdemeanor, and what used to be reported as a misdemeanor is now reported as a lighter infraction crime.”
In response to the rising crime, communities in California have formed coalitions to combat the issue. “Because of the results of what we’re experiencing with crime in California, the people spoke up. We got enough signatures to get Prop 36 on the ballot,” Belza said. Prop 36 aims to reverse some of the changes made by Prop 47 and impose stricter penalties on repeat offenders.
Belza also founded an organization called Free California to partner with state legislators and raise awareness among California residents. “We the people can make changes to things that we’re not happy about. We have a responsibility to step up as California citizens and to help make this a safe state.”
The incident involving Mayor Branscum highlights the ongoing crime crisis in California and the impact of current policies on both citizens and public officials. As the debate continues, communities are taking action to address the challenges they face, hoping for a safer future.