A 42-year-old homeless man faces charges for punching an 81-year-old woman in the face and body in Bridgeport, police say.

Police found Samuel Bryant squatting in a vacant residence and took him into custody Thursday.

On Sept 18., the victim reported that she was assaulted near the intersection of Barnum and Central Avenues on her away home from a church meeting.

The victim told police she drove by Bryant and another woman standing near the intersection. The victim said she heard the woman scream when she drove by.

Police say the victim did not think she struck the woman but pulled over to make sure.

When she pulled over, Bryant opened her door and punched her in the face and body, which caused her eyeglasses and hearing aids to fall off. The victim also suffered injuries to arm and face.

Following the assault, Bryant and the woman he was with ran off on Barnum Avenue.

The victim told police she did not know why Bryant attacked her and said the other woman pleaded with him to stop the assault.

Police say they learned Thursday that Bryant and woman he was with were at the same intersection and identified them by name.

He was charged with assault on an elderly person and reckless endangerment.

Bryant was arraigned in court Friday.

The woman who was with Bryant during the incident was not charged.