Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

Marysville City Councilman Dom Belza was allegedly assaulted by a homeless person, prompting him to criticize California's lenient crime policies. Belza claims that Prop 47, which reclassified certain felonies as misdemeanors, has contributed to the rise in crime in the state.

A Northern California city council member is highlighting the state's lenient crime policies after he and a mayor were allegedly attacked and punched by a homeless person.

Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

Marysville City Councilman Dom Belza told Fox News Digital that he and Mayor Chris Branscum, along with Chief of Police Christian Sachs and two congressional staffers for Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., were assessing damage to a historic building that had been devastated by a fire on Aug. 22 when the incident occurred.

"We were standing on the sidewalk near the site having a casual conversation. An individual was crossing at the crosswalk. And right as he got to the mayor, who had his back turned, the individual reached back and swung and hit him right square in the back," Belza said. "There was no communication, no altercation. There was nothing that instigated the punch. It was just a complete random act of violence."

Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

Belza said his "instincts kicked in" and he chased after the fleeing suspect, identified as 36-year-old Derek Hopkins.

"As I was gaining on him, and we were about halfway down the block, he turned around and saw me over his shoulder."

Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

After a brief altercation, Belza subdued Hopkins until the police arrived. Hopkins was charged with felony assault on a public official and felony elder abuse, among other offenses.

Belza believes the incident reflects the worsening crime crisis in California, which he attributes to Democratic policies.

Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

"This attack is really a result of the soft-on-crime policy that California has implemented over the last 10 years," he said, singling out Proposition 47, which reclassified certain felonies as misdemeanors in 2014.

Belza criticized former California Attorney General Kamala Harris, now Vice President, for spearheading the legislation.

Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

"She was the one who really pushed this heavily, and since then, we've just seen crime go rampant in California," he said. "I think we should all be really concerned that if she is running for president, or if she becomes president, that the entire nation is going to deal with the same issues that California is dealing with for the last 10 years."

Marysville, despite its small size, has been grappling with increased homelessness, substance abuse, and vandalism.

Homeless Attack on California Council Member Highlights State's Soft-on-Crime Crisis

"One of our local coffee shops last year just randomly had a chair thrown through its window," Belza said. "We've just seen a huge increase in those types of crime, not to mention the increase in hard crimes, like murders."

Belza disputes claims that violent crime in California has declined, arguing that the new classification system distorts the data.

"When you report it [crime] differently, it's not necessarily that the crime is going down," Belza said. "What used to be reported as a felony, now is reported as a misdemeanor, and what used to be reported as a misdemeanor is now reported as a lighter infraction crime."

"I would say the reality is we've seen crime go up to the point where most of our residents in Marysville are afraid to go to the store. They're afraid to walk down the street."

To address the issue, Belza has formed a coalition and supports Proposition 36, which aims to increase penalties for repeat offenders.

"We the people can make changes to things that we're not happy about. We have a responsibility to step up as California citizens and to help make this a safe state," he said.

The Harris campaign and LaMalfa did not immediately respond to requests for comment.