EL CERRITO — A 36-year-old Hayward man suspected of pushing a woman to the ground from behind, taking away an Israeli flag she held and burning it during a January protest over the the Israel-Hamas war has been arrested, police said.
Police arrested the man Wednesday about 7 a.m. at an undisclosed location, authorities said Thursday. They arrested the man while serving a search warrant at his residence and said they recovered more evidence implicating him in the crime.
Police said they arrested the man on suspicion of robbery, grand theft from a person and arson. He remained in custody in the county jail in Martinez early Thursday in lieu of $115,000 bail.
The gathering of protesters and counter-protesters happened Jan. 6; protestors opposed to the Israel attack on Gaza took over the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Carlson Boulevard, while pro-Israeli protestors gathered on a nearby sidewalk. Police released photos of the suspect with his face covered and said they received help from the public in identifying him.
