Marysville Mayor Attacked by Homeless Man

On August 22, Marysville, California Mayor Chris Branscum was allegedly attacked without provocation by a homeless man, Derek Hopkins, while surveying fire damage with City Councilman Dom Belza, Police Chief Christian Sachs, and congressional staffers. Hopkins first struck Branscum in the back, prompting Belza to chase and eventually restrain him, despite being punched himself. Hopkins faces eight charges, including felony assault of a public official and felony elder abuse, with bail set at $50,000. Belza criticized California's lenient crime policies, specifically mentioning Proposition 47 and former Attorney General Kamala Harris, for contributing to increased violence in the state. The incident underscores growing concerns about random acts of violence and the effectiveness of current crime policies.