Woman arrested for allegedly attacking elderly woman on Phoenix light rail platform

PHOENIX (TV3/CBS 5) — Officers have arrested a homeless woman for allegedly attacking a 70-year-old woman at a Phoenix light rail platform earlier this month. The attack happened on July 7, just before 3 p.m., at a Valley Metro platform near 3rd and Jefferson streets in downtown Phoenix. Court documents say the 70-year-old woman, who has trouble seeing and hearing, got on the platform where 46-year-old Delphine Janet Jose was standing a couple feet away.

Court paperwork says Jose began yelling at the older woman, walked up and punched her in the face. The 70-year-old was hit so hard that it knocked off her bifocal glasses and hearing aid, and she fell to the ground. Jose then reportedly pulled a portable fan off the woman’s neck and began hitting her with it until others on the platform came to help the woman, according to court documents. The woman had a bruised nose and cuts on her arms after the attack. She told police she didn’t know Jose or why she attacked her.

On July 15, Phoenix police took Jose into custody near 19th Avenue and Camelback Road but did not say what led to her arrest. Jose was booked on multiple counts, including aggravated assault, adult abuse, disorderly conduct and criminal damage. She’s due in court later this week.

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