SANTA MONICA—A 31-year-old homeless man who allegedly physically assaulted a woman in Santa Monica and attacking a store employee a day earlier was behind bars Thursday facing multiple charges.
Mario Alejandri was charged Tuesday with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with force for the pair of alleged attacks.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse on Sept. 17, according to court records.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers were sent to the 2700 block of Barnard Way on around 11:45 p.m. Aug. 28 after receiving reports from a bystander who noticed a woman bleeding and in need of medical assistance.
The victim reported that a man in an orange shirt had punched her in the head and face before hitting her with a bottle and attempting to shove sand in her mouth, police said.
The suspect fled northbound, but was eventually located and taken into custody.
“While conducting his investigation, the handling detective recognized the suspect as the perpetrator in a recent assault with a deadly weapon that occurred the day prior at the Trader Joe’s on Broadway in Santa Monica,” police said in a statement.
Alejandri allegedly entered the store around 7:45 p.m. Aug. 27 and was immediately recognized by staff from previous thefts and was asked to leave. The suspect became angry and allegedly struck an employee in the face moments before throwing two potted plants, police said.
According to police, Alejandri was on summary probation for battery and had prior arrests for battery and trespass to injure property, assault with a deadly weapon, petty theft, resisting arrest, vandalism, brandishing, possession of methamphetamine, and contempt of court.
He was jailed in lieu of $61,000 bail, according to jail records.
Anyone with information about the assaults was urged to contact SMPD Detective Benjamin Jenkins at [email protected]. or the watch commander at 310-458-8427.
