January 23, 2026 – Fresno Police Department officials report that on January 20, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Central Policing District officers responded to the area near North Marks Avenue and West Dakota Avenue for a report of an assault on a United States Postal Service employee. Officers learned that the victim was attacked while delivering mail to a community mailbox unit. The assault involved repeated strikes to the victim’s head and face and the application of a chokehold, causing difficulty breathing. The attack immediately followed a demand for money from the victim, although no property was taken from the victim. The suspects responsible for the assault were identified as two juveniles.
Central District detectives positively identified the two juvenile suspects and authored Ramey Warrants for both. Both juvenile suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for attempted robbery and assault by force likely to cause great bodily injury. Both suspects were booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus.
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at approximately 12:44 p.m., the Central Policing District officers responded to East Cornell Avenue and North Maroa Avenue regarding a United States Postal Service employee reporting that a subject brandished a knife at him after he deployed pepper spray on an aggressive dog while delivering mail in the area.
Central District detectives identified Brett Timothy Thomas as the subject who brandished the knife. The Postal Service employee initially did not want to pursue charges against Thomas. Detectives reviewed video footage that captured the entire incident. Detectives authored a Ramey warrant for Thomas for brandishing a weapon and possession of a dirk/dagger. Earlier on Thursday, Thomas was arrested and will be booked into the Fresno County Jail.
A third unrelated incident involving a United States Postal Service Employee occurred on Thursday in the area of West Hammond Avenue and North Fruit Avenue. That incident is being investigated by the Postal Inspector’s Office.
The Fresno Police Department continues its commitment to the safety of our entire community including our Postal Service Employees.
Source & photo: Fresno Police Department
