A pair of transients were charged with attempted murder Wednesday for allegedly beating and attempting to stab another homeless man in Santa Ana.
Robert Paul Beach, 40, was additionally charged with assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious bodily injury and faces sentencing enhancement allegations of attempted premeditated murder, inflicting great bodily injury and personal use of a deadly weapon.
Chelsea Danielle Cade, 28, was additionally charged with assault with a deadly weapon and faces sentencing enhancement allegations of attempted premeditated murder and the personal use of a deadly weapon.
The victim was attacked about 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22 under a bridge on Main Street near the Santa Ana (5) Freeway, where he camps out.
Beach is accused of slamming a metal rod over the man’s head for “touching his stuff,” according to police, who alleged that Beach then hit the victim five more times all over his body.
When the victim got up and walked toward a nearby Red Roof Inn parking lot, Cade allegedly followed him with a knife. Police allege she eventually asked someone else to chase after the victim and left the area, and the other person quickly ended the pursuit.
The victim, whose name was withheld, was taken to an area hospital to be treated for a cut to the head, police said.
Beach is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, and Cade on Feb. 15.