A youthful delinquent perhaps duped by his target’s elderly appearance chose the wrong victim for a would-be robbery when he threatened an 84-year-old man with a knife and demanded his wallet Wednesday afternoon, Santa Rosa Police said.


The victim, rather than cower, put down some grocery bags he was toting and informed his assailant he was a former U.S. Marine who had fought in three wars and been threatened by knives and bayonets before, police said.

He then told the teen he’d be sorry if he came any closer. He proved it when the boy stepped toward him and was kicked in the groin, police said.

The boy, estimated at 15 or 16 years old, was left doubled over on the sidewalk there on Fourth Street near Talbot Avenue around 1:15 p.m., police said.

The victim, whose name was not released, went to the Police Department about 45 minutes later and reported the incident, police said.

His assailant remained at large Thursday morning, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at

543-3693 or 543-3631.