The SFPD have made an arrest in the January attack on 77-year-old Dallas Ayers, a longtime newspaper vendor at the Montgomery BART/Muni station, which later led to his death. Tenderloin officers recognized 36-year-old Mark Anthony Cassell, a transient, from a police bulletin, and arrested him in connection with the crime.

Cassell allegedly approached Ayers on January 28 near the intersection of Market and Montgomery. According to police, Cassell wrapped his arms around Ayers' waist, lifted him up, and dropped him on the ground before running off. Ayers suffered a broken hip, and died three weeks later in the hospital. The SFPD is therefore treating this as a homicide.

No motive for the attack has been discussed, and the incident is still under investigation. Any witnesses are asked to call Sgt. Kyra Delaney at (415) 553-1145.

Ayers spent over 12 hours a day at his newspaper stand, behind the Peet's in Montgomery Station. He had been selling papers for the Chronicle for about 30 years.

[Chron]