A man was arrested after allegedly grabbing an SRJC student’s buttocks in a sexual manner and striking her in the face with an open palm, on Jan. 22, an alert  by the Santa Rosa Junior College District Police said.

According to an article in the Press Democrat, the suspect is SRJC student Jonathan Michael Hoppner.

The alert, posted through the alert system ‘Nixle’, said the incident occurred around 5 p.m. when the SRJC student walked to her car. The victim told police that Hoppner grabbed her buttocks, in which she responded by yelling at him.

Hoppner then allegedly struck the victim with an open palm, leaving red marks on her face, the alert said.

Phil Wright, SRJC’s head softball coach, was ending practice when he saw a man running down Bear Cub Way, towards Haehl Pavilion. Seconds later he heard a woman yelling, “Stop that guy. He assaulted me.”

Wright and assistant coach Mark Spaulding ran after the suspect. Wright described Hoppner as wearing a black beanie, black coat and weighing around 300 pounds.

Hoppner ran down Bear Cub Way and turned at Haehl Pavilion.

Spaulding stopped to call the SRJC District Police while the other men continued to run past the Quinn Swim Center and the men’s locker room.

Wright attempted to calm the suspect down by talking to him. “Why are you running?” he said. “Let’s figure this out.”

Wright followed Hoppner to the Burbank Auditorium where he was able stop the suspect.

The SRJC District Police arrived at the Burbank Auditorium within minutes of receiving the initial call, where they found Wright and Hoppner, said Lieutenant David Willat.  According to the “Nixle” alert, the suspect was arrested and charged with sexual battery and battery on school grounds.