(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – The Mayor of Marysville, Chris Branscum, was reportedly “sucker punched” yesterday afternoon. Marysville Police Chief Chris Sachs and Councilmember Dom Belza tell The Appeal-Democrat that they were standing at the intersection of 5th & D Streets, prior to meeting with the District 1 Representative Doug LaMalfa at the site of the Hotel Marysville. There, a man, later identified as 36-year-old Derek Hopkins, “sucker punched the mayore near his right kidney” according to the paper.

Hopkins then ran as Belza chased him down and tackled him half-a-block away. The Councilmember reported to the paper Hopkins also punched him “in the side of the head.”

Police Chief Sachs then caught up with him and successfully detained him.

Hopkins is being charged with “two counts of assault on a public official and because of the mayor’s age, elder abuse.”