Within 20 minutes, they had the right man in custody, Ewing said.īerkeley police ultimately identified that man as 32-year-old transient Richard Woods. Officers arrived within minutes and were shown the photograph. Police were called immediately, while the attack was happening. Berkeley police said the receptionist was punched in the face during the attack, which happened at about 11 a.m.Įwing said a staff member who “heard the ruckus outside” got a photograph of the assailant. A volunteer receptionist who tried to stop the arson was then assaulted, but was not seriously injured, Ewing said. “Someone came on our property and set our rainbow flag on fire,” Ewing said. Leslie Ewing, executive director of the Pacific Center for Human Growth on Telegraph Avenue, said the incident happened Friday morning while she was away. Image: Pete MancillaĬommunity support has poured in over the past few days at a Berkeley LGBTQ center where a man burned a rainbow flag and punched a volunteer Friday, according to police and organization staff. The rainbow flag flies again at the Pacific Center, and chalk messages of support have been drawn on the walkway.
