A homeless man with a criminal record is accused of attacking a woman along the beach in Santa Monica and attempting to drag her into a public restroom.
The alleged attack occurred shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday in the 2000 block of Ocean Front Walk, just south of the Santa Monica Pier.
“The victim, a Venice resident, was jogging southbound on the beach path when the suspect grabbed her ponytail from behind, knocking her to the ground,” police said in a statement. “He then pulled her several feet toward the restrooms.”
Police believe the suspect, Malcolm Ward, 48, intended to sexually assault the woman inside the Bicknell restrooms.
Several witnesses intervened and called 911, police said. Officers responded “within minutes” and found both the victim and Ward near the restrooms and took him into custody.
The victim suffered minor injuries, police said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Ward with felony counts of kidnapping, assault with intent to commit rape and a parole violation. He was being held without bail.
Police said Ward had been on parole for an assault with a deadly weapon conviction.
In April, a transient was arrested in San Diego for the brutal beatings and sexual assaults of two women along the famed Venice Canals – roughly two miles from the site of Monday’s attack.
