A homeless man accused of attacking two people in Santa Monica was arrested and charged for the assaults.
Mario Alejandri, 31, was charged with three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the Santa Monica Police Department announced Thursday.
On Aug. 28, shortly before midnight, a woman called for help after she was found bleeding with cuts to her face and head in the 2700 block of Barnard Way. She told police a man had punched her several times in the head and face, hit her with a bottle and tried to shove sand in her mouth.
The attacker fled the scene before officers later located Alejandri nearby and took him into custody.
Investigators discovered Alejandri was the same man who allegedly attacked an employee at a Trader Joe’s market the day before.
When Alejandri entered the store, he was “immediately recognized by store staff from prior shoplifting incidents,” police said.
When employees asked the man to leave, he reportedly became angry and struck the employee in the face.
He threw two potted plants at the worker and while exiting, picked up a sign and attempted to throw it when workers closed the entrance doors and blocked him, authorities said.
The Trader Joe’s employee was not seriously injured. The assault was captured on store surveillance cameras, which police said allowed the detective to connect Alejandri to both incidents.
The suspect was on summary probation for battery charges at the time. He also has prior arrests for:
- Battery
- Trespass to Injure Property
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Petty Theft
- Resisting Arrest
- Vandalism
- Brandishing
- Possession of Methamphetamine
- Contempt of Court
On Sept. 3, the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office filed three felony assault with deadly weapons charges against Alejandri — two counts for the beach assault and one for the attack at Trader Joe’s.
Anyone with additional information about the suspect or the incidents is asked to contact Detective Jenkins at Benjamin.Jenkins@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.