GILBERT, Ariz. — An unprovoked attack is causing a Gilbert man to question why he would be targeted by a man half his age. On Sunday morning, Jose Delgado, 66, said he was threatened, punched and thrown to the ground while out on his daily morning walk.
The alleged assault happened on a trail adjacent to the Millet Ranch neighborhood near East Ray and North Cooper roads just before 7 a.m.
“I don’t understand why a young guy can do that to an old man," Delgado said.
Delgado said he was walking along the trail and was on the same side as a man in his middle 30s who was walking two large dogs in the opposite direction. As he attempted to avoid a collision, Delgado said the man moved the same way seemingly on purpose.
“About that time, we were facing each other, and then he started to yell at me if I want him to throw me in the canal," Delgado said.
Moments after that threat, what could have been a cordial misunderstanding turned physical. The man delivered a left hook to his stomach. Delgado has a dark bruise where he endured the blow.
“I felt overpowered and sad. I thought that I will never forgive me if I don't do something, at least tell the authorities," he said.
The Gilbert resident of 26 years called the police. According to Gilbert Police, they responded and took a report from Delgado of the suspect's description, but couldn't locate him anywhere in the surrounding area.
Police say the alleged suspect is described as a white male in his mid-30s, muscular build, short-balding hair, facial hair, wearing a red shirt with gray pants, with two dogs similar in breed to pit bulls—one brown and one black.
To make matters even scarier, Delgado recently underwent open heart surgery and was on a walk that helps improve his recovery. If the punch had hit him where his large scar is on his chest, he said he could have died.
"I wouldn't be here talking with you," Delgado told 12News.
In what is a usually very safe neighborhood, Delgado is calling on the City of Gilbert and the police to install more cameras in and around their local parks and trails. He also encourages police to place more patrol officers in the area where the assault took place.
“I think it is in our best interest to keep it safe," Delgado said.
Gilbert Police asks the community to report any tips to them directly by calling 480-503-6500 and reference case #24-150021 or submitting a tip online at glbrt.is/GPDSubmitATip.