A transient man was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges after a report of a battery in Castaic early Tuesday morning, according to an official with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
The charges were attempting to unlawfully start a fire on property, felony vandalism for allegedly ripping the victim’s hearing aid from his ear and destroying it, misdemeanor battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to an email statement from Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the station.
The transient was allegedly observed by a woman passing by him on the 31400 block of Cherry Drive and she reported that it seemed like he was preparing to ignite a fire, the statement said.
The woman, who was across the street, took a photograph of the suspect and, upon noticing the photo being taken, the suspect allegedly charged toward her, according to the statement.
The woman’s husband intervened and stood in front of his wife to protect her and the suspect allegedly grabbed the man and threw him to the ground, the statement said.
The suspect remains in custody with no bail as of the publication of this story. The victim was treated at the scene by medical personnel and later sought additional medical care on his own, according to Miller’s statement.
