A homeless man who allegedly tried to rob one woman and drown another at the beach in Santa Monica remained in custody Tuesday.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, was arrested around 9:45 a.m. Monday on the beach near the 1300 block of Ocean Front Walk, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Lt. Erika Aklufi said three victims were provided medical assistance at the scene, including an older woman and a 17-year-old, who was taken to a hospital with unspecified severe injuries that weren’t deemed life-threatening.
Witnesses told the online news blog Santa Monica Closeup that the man initially tried to rob one woman, then punched a bystander who tried to intervene.
“I was sitting on the beach and heard screaming coming from Lifeguard Tower 13,” the bystander told Closeup. “I approached the situation and saw a man attacking a young woman, trying to rob her. I pushed him off, but he punched me in the face and attacked her again. I tackled him, and he turned his attention towards me, attempting to strangle me and biting my ear.”
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According to Closeup, the man then grabbed another woman, dragged her into the ocean surf and tried to drown her, but a lifeguard intervened until police arrived and took the man into custody.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the SMPD watch commander at 310-458-8427.