City worker assaulted in ‘unprovoked, very violent’ attack in Fresno, police say
UPDATE: The Fresno Police Department located and arrested a suspect wanted following an attack on a city employee. The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Dyllan Padavona. Police said he has a history of assault on police officers, resisting arrest, trespassing, and vandalism. He was booked Friday on suspicion of attempted murder.
ORIGINAL STORY: Police are looking for a suspect who attacked a Fresno city employee Friday morning at Kern and G streets near downtown.
Police Chief Mindy Casto said during an afternoon news conference that the attack occurred around 7:30 a.m. after a passer-by noticed the victim down near Central Fish Company.
Casto said the 20-year employee was working on an electrical box at the intersection when he was ambushed from behind with a blunt object.
“Attacked in an unprovoked, very violent manner,” she said.
The police department shared a video of the attack during the news conference that shows the worker being hit in the head area from behind by an assailant armed with what appears to be a metal pipe.
When officers arrived they found the 57-year-old unconscious. He was taken to a hospital and had yet to regain consciousness as of Friday afternoon, Casto said. He was in critical condition.
Officers are looking for a suspect who was wearing all black clothing at the time of the attack.
Police released a photo of a person they said is the suspect in the attack wearing an orange T-shirt and a black beanie.
Police believe the man is a regular in the area.
“We’ve developed information by speaking with witnesses that he is known to have been seen there,” Casto said.
“We have a very clear photograph. ... We really need your help.”
Mayor Jerry Dyer said the worker is married and has two daughters. He was assigned to the public works department in the traffic signal and street light division, Dyer said.
The worker was alone at the time and was trying to remove the traffic signal from the intersection.
“This was a vicious, unprovoked attack in broad daylight,” Dyer said. “There is nothing the city worker could have done to prevent this.”
City manager Georgeanne White said the city employs 4,500 people and that the victim was working on his day off.
“Our public safety employees are on the front line every day,” she said. “Their families and spouses know that they put their lives in jeopardy every day. It’s disgusting and appalling. These employees should not have to put their lives on the line to do a job.”
This story was originally published April 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM.
