Puppy in backpack stolen after S.F. Muni assault

Police are looking for a suspect they say punched a man and stole his puppy, Chester, on a Muni bus in San Francisco on Jan. 22. Police are looking for a suspect they say punched a man and stole his puppy, Chester, on a Muni bus in San Francisco on Jan. 22. Photo: Courtesy / San Francisco Police Department Photo: Courtesy / San Francisco Police Department Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Puppy in backpack stolen after S.F. Muni assault 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Police in San Francisco are hoping the public can help them identify a suspect who punched a man in the face on a Muni bus and stole his backpack, which contained a 4-month-old puppy.

On the evening of Jan. 22, officers responded to the area of Mission and Sixth streets after a Muni rider on the 14-Mission bus line reported being assaulted on the bus, said Officer Grace Gatpandan, a police spokeswoman.

The victim told police that he was assaulted and had his bag stolen. In the bag was Chester, a blackish-gray pit bull pup.

The suspect is described as about 26 years old, standing 5 foot 9, wearing a “black vest shirt” and a gray sweatshirt, according to Gatpandan.

Police asked anyone who has seen Chester or the suspect, or anyone who witnessed the attack, to contact Sgt. Maris Goldsborough at (415) 734-3117 or call the anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale