Fresno Sees String of Attacks on Postal Workers

Safety at Work

Fresno, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) – Police and postal officials reported two attacks on mail carriers in one week in the Fresno, Calif., area this month.

The attacks indicate a disturbing trend in that area, officials said.

On Jan. 15, home surveillance video captured a mail carrier being robbed at gunpoint. A man wearing a black jacket and a black hooded sweatshirt is wanted in that incident where the attacker took off with the mailman’s phone, wallet, and keys, including the keys to his mail van. The mail carrier in that incident was uninjured.

The next week, it happened again. Police said a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was delivering mail shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the neighborhood off of Marks and Saginaw Way. The mail carrier was attacked by two teenagers, police said. The attack left the mail carrier dazed and with a few minor scratches.

Fresno Police said a 15-year-old was arrested and is facing several charges including attempted robbery and assault using force. The other suspect remains at large.

While the postal employee’s injuries were minor, and one of the suspects was later arrested, investigators believe it is an indication of a trend.

On Jan. 21, police reported a third confrontation when a homeowner pulled out a box cutter and the mail carrier took out pepper spray.

In that case, the mail carrier used pepper spray on a dog that was trying to jump a fence near Maroa.

Investigators said the dog's owner followed and confronted the postal employee and pulled out a box cutter. In defense, the mailman again grabbed his pepper spray again. Officials said the mail carrier was able to de-escalate the situation, and no one was injured. No charges were filed in that incident.

"It could be our neighbor, it could be our relative, so it is bad," JC, a Fresno resident, told media outlets. "I don't understand what's going on, but it's wrong. These are postal workers. They're just doing their job.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the lead agency on the case, tells Action News that investigators believe that in at least one case, the keys mail carriers have on them may have been the motive.

"That is frequently the motivation. That is what robbers usually take from letter carriers when they're on their routes. I want to remind people that there's no reason to have a postal key except to deliver mail, so if you're not a letter carrier, you shouldn't have one. In fact, it is a federal crime to even possess a postal key without authorization," Matthew Norfleet, U.S. Postal Inspector, told media outlets. "Your neighborhood is where your mail carrier comes to work. Their job is physically and mentally demanding. They are carrying a heavy sack. They walk miles and miles a day, and they're trying to read the mail as they go and get all that mail out as quickly as they possibly can.”

Each of the incidents raises questions about postal employee safety, especially since so many postal employees work alone.

"They just aren't enough people for them to double up. Certainly, postal inspectors are concerned about this. We have always been concerned about it, but when something like this happens, then there's increased focus on it," Norfleet said.

The Postal Inspection Service does have a reward set for anyone who has information that could lead to arrests on any of these cases, they say up to $150,000.

Attacks on postal workers are up all over the country.

In St. Louis County, Mo., a postal employee was attacked by a man upset over a missing package.

Officials said the mail carrier was inside an apartment lobby in late December when they were confronted about a missing package.

According to arrest records, when the mail carrier tried to defuse the situation and walk away, a resident, Shaun Lewis, put him in a chokehold from behind, strangled him and threw him to the ground. While the postal employee was on the ground, Lewis allegedly  punched him repeatedly in the head. Witnesses called 911, and Lewis was taken into custody.

The postal worker told officers he couldn’t breathe and almost lost consciousness during the assault. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Lewis was charged with third-degree assault.

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