KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said that a man is being evaluated at Borgess Medical Center after being suspected of assaulting several people Sunday afternoon.
Law enforcement said that at about 2:10 p.m. Sunday a man only described to be in his 40s approached an elderly man and his wife in the parking lot of the Meijer store on Gull Road in Kalamazoo. The suspect is accused of striking the man in the face. Officers were notified once the victim arrived at a nearby hospital.
"They were just loading up their car with merchandise and a fellow came up behind them and just sucker punched him in the back of the head," said Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas.
Investigators said that the suspect also assaulted a customer at the Admiral Gas Station on Allegan Street in Plainwell on Sunday.
"Thirty minutes after the first incident, he's in Allegan. He's doing the same thing up there and the two police agencies within a few minutes after the second incident were able to put two and two together that it was the same individual," said Matyas.
Officers were contacted by the suspect's family Monday afternoon, telling them that a relative staying with them was likely the suspect. After making contact with the family and the suspect, officers on scene decided to have him evaluated at the hospital.
"The police officer saw something that made him determine that his best option would be medical treatment," said Matyas.
The suspect was driving a Pontiac minivan with an Arkansas license plate.
"He was staying with family members in the Plainwell area and late this afternoon members from that family contacted the police department," said Matyas.
The injuries for both victims are described as minor.
Upon release from Borgess Medical Center, investigators said the suspect could be facing charges for assault and battery.
