SLO man arrested after allegedly beating elderly woman at her home

A 56-year-old San Luis Obispo man has been arrested after police say he assaulted an 82-year-old woman in downtown San Luis Obispo.

At about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a residential building in the 900 block of Monterey Street after they received reports of an assault, according to a news release. When they arrived, they found an 82-year-old woman being tended by her neighbors, while others restrained Thomas Terrell, the man suspected of assaulting her.

According to police, the woman heard “a commotion” outside her home and went to check on the noise. When she opened the door, Terrell allegedly pushed his way into her home, forced her to the ground and started punching her, police said. The assault stopped when neighbors detained the suspect, police said.

The woman was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for a concussion and lacerations, police said. Terrell was taken to the San Luis Obispo County Jail and charges of first-degree burglary, elder abuse and threats to commit a crime of violence have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office, according to police.

Terrell is being held on $50,000 bail, according to jail records.

This story was originally published September 14, 2017 at 4:19 PM with the headline "SLO man arrested after allegedly beating elderly woman at her home."