Suspect attacks three people on the beach in Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) – A homeless man accused of attacking three people on the beach in Santa Monica has been taken into custody, police said.

The attacks occurred Monday morning on Ocean Front Walk, according to Santa Monica police. It is unclear what provoked the alleged attacks.

Among the victims are a woman and a 17-year-old girl who was taken to hospital with serious injuries. One of the victims was injured while trying to intervene, police said.

“He turned his attention to me, tried to strangle me… bit my ear hard and tried to undo my pants from their original position,” she said.

All victims are expected to be OK.

“He attacked a third victim, a woman in her 70s, pulled her into the water and actually held her underwater when lifeguards arrived,” Santa Monica Police Lt. Erika Aklufi said.

The homeless man was arrested shortly afterward and now faces several serious criminal charges. Monday’s incident is just the latest attack along Ocean Front Walk.

Last month, a homeless man was arrested for attempting to rape a young woman jogging on a beach path. Another homeless man was also arrested for attacking a 73-year-old woman.

“We see meth and fentanyl use in Santa Monica, many drugs that can negatively affect people’s behavior. They make them more aggressive,” Aklufi said.

A giant sign from the Santa Monica Coalition reading “Santa Methica is not safe” is discussed at a city council meeting Tuesday night.

According to the agenda, the point of contention is the wording “The City Manager of Santa Monica supports the free distribution of syringes and meth pipes in our parks and public spaces.”

Despite protests in April, Los Angeles County is operating a publicly funded open-air syringe distribution program as part of its harm reduction programs.