Police arrested a panhandler who allegedly kicked a pregnant woman in the stomach after she refused to give him money outside the Payless Shoe Store on Hatch Road on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

A 911 call was placed at 5:54 p.m. about a physical fight involving the panhandler, the woman and another man who jumped in to help her. Ceres Police Department spokesman Lt. Chris Perry said that the woman was shopping in the area and was approached by Anthony Ruiz, 40, of Ceres, who was "aggressively panhanding." When she refused to give him money, he started an altercation and kicked her in the stomach, said Lt. Perry.

An unknown man jumped in to help the woman and Ruiz allegedly punched him in the left eye.

Police showed up and arrested Ruiz for battery with injury and public drunkenness.

The pregnant mother was transported to ambulance with a complaint of pain.