AIRPORT COURTHOUSE — A homeless man living on the streets of Santa Monica was arraigned Tuesday after police accused him of slashing another man’s cheek in front of the McDonald’s on Second Street.
Clarence Anthony Williams, 38, plead not guilty to one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of mayhem, a clerk with the Los Angeles Superior Court said. He is expected to be back in court on Jan. 12 for a preliminary hearing. He is currently being held on $1 million bail.
Police said the victim, whose name was not released, was standing outside the fast food restaurant around 7:45 a.m. on Dec. 26 drinking a soda and smoking a cigarette when Williams approached him and “suddenly raised his right hand and slashed the victim’s left cheek, possibly with a box cutter,” said SMPD Sgt. Jay Trisler.
Williams then allegedly grabbed the victim’s right leg and dragged him roughly 15 feet, letting him go in the middle of Second Street near Colorado Avenue. While on his back, the victim tried to defend himself by kicking at Williams, who tried repeatedly to cut the victim. After roughly 20 seconds, the victim got to his feet and ran for help.
Trisler said the gash in the victim’s cheek was roughly 6 inches long, running from his cheek to the back of his head. The victim, who police said was also homeless, told officers that he did not know Williams well. The two met a day earlier when the victim lit Williams’ cigarette.
Armed with a description of the suspect, officers tracked down Williams at OPCC’s Access Center, the first point of entry for homeless individuals and families seeking assistance. Officers used video footage from security cameras in the area to identify Williams, Trisler said.
He was arrested and booked for attempted murder, kidnapping and a probation violation. Williams was on probation for trespassing.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
