PALO ALTO, CA — Police in Palo Alto are investigating an alleged assault and robbery at Baylands Nature Preserve as a possible hate crime.
The alleged attack occurred Thursday afternoon, when a man in his 30s was walking on the Marsh Front trailhead, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a statement Saturday.
The victim reported being assaulted as he walked back to his vehicle just before 12:30 p.m. by three people who he passed on the trail.
He was allegedly punched in the eye and thrown to the ground while the three suspects yelled racial slurs targeting Black people, according to the Police Department.
All three assaulted the victim while he was on the ground and stole his wallet, the man told police.
He was treated by paramedics with the Palo Alto Fire Department for bruises and facial scratches after reporting the alleged robbery from his nearby workplace.
The three suspects were not immediately located and no arrests had been made as of Saturday.
One of the men was described as Hispanic, 5-foot-8, in his 20s, with a goatee. He was wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, and black athletic shoes, police said.
A second suspect was described as a 5-foot-8 Hispanic man also in his 20s, wearing a tan hoodie with writing on the front and black jeans.
The third was described as a 5-foot-8 man in his 20s who was wearing a black hoodie.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Palo Alto Police Department at (650) 329-2413.
Copyright © 2026 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Palo Alto Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.