Criminal, Out On Parole, Attacks Mayor & City Councilman In Small California Town

A parolee, who is also homeless, with a long criminal history, is behind bars after attacking the Mayor of Marysville California.

Marysville is a small town of about 12-thousand people, north of Sacramento in Yuba County California. 

On Thursday August 22nd 2024 in broad daylight.

Mayor Chris Branscum was sucker-punched from behind by Derek Hopkins, a man who was recently released from prison under California’s liberal leniency plan to reduce incarceration of people of color.    Hopkins has already been convicted of domestic violence and auto theft.

Mayor Branscum was walking with Marysville City Councilman Dom Belza, who quickly started chasing Hopkins.

Neither Branscum nor Belza had any weapon to protect themselves on the streets. 

As he was running, Hopkins stopped cold, and punched Belza on the side of the head.

Belza then decided to tackle Hopkins and and held him on the ground until someone called the police.

Under the ongoing effort to defund police departments across the country, in the future, there may not be any police to call when attacks like this take place.

A prisoner behind bars with hands cuffed

Photo from Alpha Media USA Portland OR