On February 20 at approximately 12 p.m.
Officers responded to the Travel Lodge Hotel, 3102 Pico Boulevard regarding an assault that just occurred. While en route to the location, officers learned that a male transient entered the hotel lobby and attempted to take food, which is explicitly meant for the hotel guest. When the male transient, later identified as Matthew Gitlin, was confronted by the hotel worker and repeatedly asked to leave the hotel he became upset and refused to leave. Gitlin then pushed an employee, pinched her thumb in a coffee dispenser, and threw hot coffee on her. Gitlin then fled the location.
Upon arrival, the officers were able to locate Gitlin outside the hotel. They detained him and were able to get him positively identified by the witnesses and the victim. Gatlin was later found to also have a warrant for his arrest out of Orange County for Petty Theft.
Matthew Allen Gitlin, 45, homeless, was arrested for assault, battery, and the Orange County Warrant. Gitlin was held on no bail due to the warrant.
