Three people were arrested this week in two unrelated incidents involving assaults or threats against U.S. Postal Service employees in Fresno, the Fresno Police Department said in a statement.

In the first incident, officers responded around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday near North Marks and West Dakota avenues to a report of an assault on a postal carrier. Police said the employee was attacked while delivering mail to a community mailbox unit.

The assault involved repeated strikes to the victim’s head and face and a chokehold that caused difficulty breathing. Investigators said the attack followed a demand for money, though no property was taken.

Police identified the suspects as two juveniles and were taken into custody Wednesday.

They were booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus on suspicion of attempted robbery and assault by force likely to cause great bodily injury.

In a separate incident Wednesday around 12:44 p.m., officers responded near Cornell and North Maroa avenues after a postal employee reported a man brandished a knife.

Police said the confrontation occurred after the carrier used pepper spray on an aggressive dog while delivering mail.

Brett Timothy Thomas

Detectives identified the suspect as Brett Timothy Thomas. After reviewing video footage, investigators obtained a warrant for brandishing a weapon and possession of a dirk or dagger.

Thomas was arrested on Thursday and is expected to be booked into the Fresno County Jail.

A third, unrelated incident involving a postal employee Thursday near West Hammond and North Fruit avenues is under investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office.

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