SAN ANTONIO – The arrest of a man in the random beating of a woman at a North Side convenience store doesn’t exactly come as good news to her family.
The woman’s sister was the latest member of the family to speak to KSAT 12. Like her relatives, she asked for her identity not be revealed for fear of retaliation.
She said her sister was beaten in an unprovoked attack by a stranger Sept. 20 while standing in line inside the business, in the 1600 block of Blanco Road.
On Tuesday afternoon, San Antonio police took Russell Wayne Collins, 26, into custody in connection with the crime.
RELATED: Woman randomly attacked inside North Side convenience store
The sister of the woman he’s accused of attacking said police have had other opportunities in the past to arrest him.
“What took them so long?” she asked. "He came back to the store Sept. 25 to confess that he did it."
Officer Douglas Greene, a public information officer for the department, confirmed that Collins did attempt to turn himself in previously. He said after speaking with him, officers issued him a citation for criminal trespass and let him go.
Click here to see the extent of the victim's injuries, warning some may it disturbing.
Greene said at that point, investigators still needed critical information from the victim before they could arrest Collins in connection with the beating.
The victim’s family members provided KSAT 12 with surveillance photos more than a week ago, showing the attacker with his hands on the woman’s neck.
At that time, a clerk at the store said police had been provided with video showing the same thing.
Less than 10 hours after Collins’ arrest Tuesday, he was released on bond from the Bexar County magistrate’s office.
"Knowing that he is a danger to society, are they just waiting for him to kill her or someone else?" the victim’s sister said. "It is extremely disappointing to my family and (me). We want this guy off the streets."
The charge filed against Collins, assault with bodily injury, is a class B misdemeanor.
Greene said because there was no weapon involved or life-threatening injuries inflicted, the crime does not rise to the level of a felony.
