Man charged in Walnut Creek rifle-butt assault case

A Suisun City man has been arrested and charged in the rifle-butt assault March 2 of another man outside a restaurant in Walnut Creek, authorities said.

The 28-year-old suspect was arrested in Las Vegas last month and extradited to Contra Costa County.

He has been charged with assault with a machine gun or assault weapon, possession of an assault weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm; he also faces a probation revocation hearing. The suspect is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility and has a court appearance May 17.

According to police, the assault happened about 12:30 a.m. March 2 in the 1500 block of North Main Street. Police were alerted by a restaurant’s report of a disturbance and found a man outside on the ground with a head injury. It was not known if he required medical attention.

According to police, the suspect allegedly hit the man in the head with the stock end of a rifle before fleeing. Police have not said if the two men knew each other or what prompted the alleged assault.

The suspect was subsequently identified by investigators and a warrant was issued for his arrest in late March. Police have not said how they were able to identify him.

According to court records, the suspect has four prior felony convictions, including a 2023 verdict of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Contra Costa County. The man also has convictions in Yolo, Orange and San Mateo counties, dating to 2016, 2018 and 2019.