By the Daily Post staff
Palo Alto police arrested a man today that they believe whacked another man in the head with a skateboard in an unprovoked assault.
Arrested was Joshua Stroman, 34, of East Palo Alto. He is accused of felony assault in connection with an attack Monday afternoon at the Opportunity Center, a facility for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, located at 33 Encina Ave. in Palo Alto.
On Monday at 2:51 p.m. police received a call about the attack and went to the Opportunity Center where they found a man in his 40s who was bleeding. Police said he sustained a one-inch laceration to the head, but he didn’t lose consciousness.
The victim said he had a brief conversation with Stroman, who then suddenly and without warning swung his skateboard with both hands, hitting him in the head, police said.
The assault was witnessed by others in the courtyard of the Opportunity Center, police said.
The victim and his mother both told police they had never met Stroman before and had no idea why he attacked the victim. They said Stroman didn’t say anything to the victim that indicated the reason for the assault, police said. Their brief conversation was non-confrontational in nature, police said.
Police said they obtained a warrant for Stroman’s arrest and found him this morning at University Avenue and Runnymede Street in East Palo Alto.
