[05-14-2022] Santa Clara County, CA – Elderly Woman Attacked by Robbers Along Channing Avenue

According to a Palo Alto police press release, an elderly woman was injured after two people attempted to rob her wedding ring in Palo Alto on Saturday afternoon, May 14, 2022.

The assault occurred at about 4:15 p.m. in the 700 block of Channing Avenue.

A large, black four-door sedan pulled up alongside the woman, who was in her 80s and using a walker.

Before getting out of the car to continue the conversation, a female passenger asked the woman for directions to a grocery store. She told the victim that she looked like her mother and that she wanted to give her a piece of jewelry that belonged to her mother. The woman then slipped a bracelet onto the victim’s wrist after removing her hand from the walker.

The woman then attempted to remove the victim’s wedding ring from her finger, but it refused to come off no matter how hard she pulled. The woman re-entered the car, which an unidentified man was driving, and they sped eastbound on Channing Avenue.

The victim sustained minor physical injuries. She continued walking because she didn’t have her phone with her and later told a family member about the incident. A member of the family dialed 911.

During the attempted robbery, two of the victim’s fingers were bruised. She described the woman as an adult with dark black hair pulled back into a bun and standing around 5 feet 4 inches tall. Her skin tone was medium.

The driver was a dark-haired man with a dark mustache.

There are no other details available.

The assault remains under investigation.

Elder Abuse Statistics

Elder abuse can take many forms; in this case, physical abuse was involved. Physical contact with the victim is what is meant by elder abuse. Physical violence includes punching, slapping, and hitting. Physical restraint can also imply that they are being treated harshly or extortionately.

Abuse of the elderly is widespread in California and throughout the United States. Every tenth American over the age of 60 is a victim of elder abuse, which is defined as the maltreatment of someone because of their age. One estimate puts the number of elder abuse victims at five million annually. There are only one in twenty-four people who report incidents of abuse.

About 31.9% of all elder abuse incidents in the state are reported to the California Department of Social Services, while the state average is 38.5%.

Anyone who intentionally causes or permits unwarranted emotional or physical distress to a senior citizen is guilty of elder abuse under California Penal Code Section 368(c). This provision also covers dependent adults who are unable to care for themselves.

Santa Clara County Elder Abuse Lawyers

When it comes to criminal charges for elder abuse in California, the nature of a person’s relationship with the elderly can play a role. The suspect’s actions should not be accidental or unintentional if elder abuse is being investigated.

Elder abuse is a common and shocking crime in our society. Many victims of harm or abuse are able to recoup their losses and hold those responsible accountable, which is encouraging news.

Our Santa Clara County elder abuse lawyers at Arash Law will aggressively defend the rights of elderly victims.

We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine everything that led to the victim’s mistreatment, neglect or abuse. You can rely on our team’s expertise when it comes to spotting the telltale signs of elder abuse or neglect. Call us at (888) 488-1391 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.