Homeless man accused of attacking jogger in Santa Monica

Booking photo by Malcolm Ward. (Santa Monica Police)

A homeless man with a criminal record is accused of attacking a woman on Santa Monica Beach and trying to drag her into a public restroom.

The alleged attack occurred just after 7 a.m. Monday in the 2000 block of Ocean Front Walk.

“The victim, a Venice resident, was jogging south on the beach path when the suspect grabbed her from behind by her ponytail and threw her to the ground,” a police statement said. “He then dragged her several meters towards the toilet.”

Police believe the suspect, Malcolm Ward, 48, intended to sexually assault the woman in Bicknell toilets.

Several witnesses intervened in the attack and called 911, police said. Officers responded “within minutes” and found both the victim and Ward near the restrooms and took him into custody.

The victim suffered minor injuries, police said.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Ward with kidnapping, assault with intent to rape and probation violation. He was held without bail.

Police said Ward was on parole for an assault with a deadly weapon conviction.

In April, a transient was arrested in San Diego for the brutal beating and sexual assault of two women along Venice’s famous canals – about two miles from the site of Monday’s attack.