After harassing and assaulting a 17-year-old passenger aboard a trolley, a man stabbed a 50-year-old man who had stepped in to help the teen and then fled, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Witnesses on the trolley, which was traveling through the Encanto neighborhood on Oct. 17, said the 50-year-old stepped in to help the teen after a man made anti-gay comments to the teen and then punched him in the face. The attacker then stabbed the 50-year-old in the arm with a small knife, Detective Wes Morris said.

As the trolley stopped at the 62nd Street and Aiken station, the attacker got off and ran, but was captured by the police 15 to 20 minutes later, Morris said.

“He was walking through a neighborhood not far away from the trolley stop,” Morris said. “There were several witnesses who gave his description and his last known direction of travel, and patrol officers put the information out and ultimately found him a few blocks away.”

The 50-year-old wounded man, whose name has not been released, did not receive life-threatening injuries, Morris said.

According to the SDPD, the suspect has been identified as Exodus Bolton, 35. He is being held at the South Bay Detention Facility on $60,000 bail.

Since the assaults happened near the end of the workday, there were multiple witnesses to the crime, Morris said, and added that he has a general idea of why the altercation started but is questioning witnesses for more information.

Morris said he could not disclose what led up to Bolton allegedly assaulting the teenager and stabbing the 50-year-old man until the questioning of witnesses is complete.

Bolton was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, battery with a hate crime allegation and resisting arrest, Deputy District Attorney Oscar Garcia said. The battery charge was elevated to a felony due to the hate crime enhancement because the 17-year-old was attacked because he is gay, he said.

Bolton is scheduled to appear in San Diego Superior Court for a readiness hearing on Monday, Oct. 30, and a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Nov. 2.