Saad Zarkaria, a transient of Portland, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and simple assault today. There is no connection between this arrest and the series of attacks on residents by a man with a blunt object on the heads of people he approaches, mostly late at night, from behind the victim according to Portland Police.

The arrest came following a series of assaults in which a suspect was bumping into women and cutting their arms, leaving superficial lacerations.

The first reported incident happened in Monument Square today around 8:44 am as a victim called 911 to report that the suspect bumped into her and she felt a cut on the back of her arms.  At least one other female victim reported a similar incident in which she was cut after a similarly-described man bumped into her.  Both victims were offered treatment at the scene; one took herself to the hospital.

He was taken to Cumberland County Jail.

“This sort of erratic and random violence and victimization will simply not be tolerated,” said Chief Frank Clark.  “Kudos go out to our patrol and community policing officers.  Their familiarity with their beats and the people on them led to the quick identification and apprehension of the suspect.  I would ask anyone who witnessed this behavior or who may have been a victim of it, to call us at: 207 – 874-8575.