A 21-year-old Berkeley man is behind bars after police say he stabbed his 72-year-old father inside their northwest Berkeley home on Monday. The elder was rushed to Highland Hospital and later discharged to recover at home. Officers tracked down the suspect nearby and arrested him without incident; he remains jailed pending court appearances, authorities said.
Berkeley police told The Berkeley Scanner they were dispatched around 5:45 PM to the 800 block of Hearst Avenue, near Sixth Street, where they found a 72-year-old man with a stab wound to his side. The Berkeley Fire Department transported the victim "Code 3" to Highland Hospital. Officers later located 21-year-old Isaac Bolton hiding in bushes about a half-mile away, on the 1700 block of 10th Street near Virginia Street. Bolton was arrested at about 6 PM and booked on suspicion of attempted murder and elder abuse, police said.
What the charges mean
Attempted murder and elder abuse are among California’s most serious charges and can influence pretrial custody and charging decisions. The California Attorney General notes that elder-abuse offenses under Penal Code §368 may be prosecuted as misdemeanors or felonies; felony convictions can carry multiple years in state prison depending on the severity of injury. How prosecutors proceed at arraignment will hinge on the evidence, the victim’s condition, and any outstanding charges from earlier this year.
Background
According to The Berkeley Scanner, the Alameda County district attorney charged Bolton in June with exhibiting a deadly weapon, criminal threats, vandalism, and two counts of elder abuse; he was released on his own recognizance in that case. Booking records show Bolton is being held at the Berkeley jail on $55,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment tomorrow. No motive has been released, and investigators continue to interview witnesses and review evidence.
Bolton remains in custody as the investigation continues and his father recovers at home. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Berkeley Police Department.
