A man who allegedly grabbed an elderly man and threw him to the ground in an unprovoked attack at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco Monday afternoon pleaded not guilty today to assault and elder abuse charges, a district attorney’s spokesman said.
Markus Husarak, 45, was arrested in connection with the unprovoked attack, which caused life-threatening injuries to the 84-year-old victim, police said.
Husarak was apparently practicing karate near the intersection of Jefferson and Mason streets at about 4:40 p.m. Monday when the victim walked by, police said.
Husarak allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck and threw him to the ground. The victim did not know the suspect, and investigators do not know why he was attacked, according to police.
Officers responded and arrested Husarak after witnesses pointed him out as the attacker.
The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries–including pelvic fractures and a head injury requiring staples–that are considered life-threatening, police said.
Husarak pleaded not guilty to the assault and elder abuse charges at his arraignment hearing today in San Francisco Superior Court, district attorney’s spokesman Seth Steward said.
Bail has been set at $150,000, according to the district attorney’s office.
He has a previous conviction for making criminal threats, Steward said.
His next court date in the case is scheduled for May 18 to set a date for the preliminary hearing.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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