JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s office is looking for a suspect accused of punching a senior citizen.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
On Fri., May 5, officers responded to the area of 15000 Cape Drive, on Jacksonville’s Northside, in response to calls about a reported battery. Investigation revealed the pictured suspect was in the area going door to door attempting to solicit work from multiple residents.
Several neighbors told Action News Jax this man looked suspicious. They’ve had solicitors in The Cape neighborhood before, but claim this suspect appeared to be more confrontational.
“I’ve never encountered anybody like that out here before,” neighbor Danny Connell said.
His wife, Becky Connell, added saying, “I was scared.”
Read: Jacksonville man arrested in connection to February murder in North Miami Beach, police say
Danny and Becky Connell say when the suspect approached them, he made them feel uncomfortable.
“Here I am outside my house and I can’t get to my safety because of this guy right here,” Danny Connell said.
But they weren’t the only neighbors who say they felt unsafe. Another neighbor I spoke with -- who wanted to remain anonymous -- called the police. This picture of the suspect was captured on his ring doorbell.
“He was very aggressive,” the anonymous neighbor said.
Danny Connell says the suspect claimed to be selling a product to clean concrete.
“He opened his backpack and took out some soap, and some stuff like that.”
At the entrance of The Cape neighborhood, there is a sign that reads “No Soliciting.” And it tells people you can’t sell door-to-door, offering a service or a business.
“No one in the neighborhood wants that, the signs are posted,” the anonymous neighbor said.
That’s when the victim, a senior citizen, got involved. He didn’t want to show his face on camera, but he says he rolled up in his golf cart telling the suspect to leave.
Read: Man taken down by Jacksonville K-9 after hours-long SWAT standoff at Gregory Cove Apartments
“I asked him if he had a car in the neighborhood, and he got real vulgar and indignant towards me,” the senior citizen said.
He says he continued to ask the suspect to leave. He then claims a short time later the suspect took off his backpack and began instigating a fight. That’s when the senior says the suspect punched him and ran.
“Once I was punched upside the head I called JSO back, and I said the call needs to be upgraded, we’ve got a battery on an elderly citizen,” the senior said.
Despite the incident, this senior says he feels safe.
“I still feel pretty comfortable with our neighborhood, even though there has been some crime issues developing in the last few years that we’ve never had before,” the senior said.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
JSO is asking anyone with information leading to the identity of the pictured suspect is asked call in at 904-630-0500 or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
