Panhandler Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To Kill Restaurant Manager With Knife

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A panhandler was arrested Monday after he allegedly threatened to kill a fast food restaurant manager with a knife in Downtown L.A.

Kenneth Underwood was taken into police custody when detectives learned that the man who allegedly attacked the manager on Saturday was back Monday, panhandling patrons as they tried to place their orders in the drive-thru.

Underwood was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon with sentencing enhancements for a hate crime.

The incident began when the manager of the restaurant, located in the 600 block of South Alameda Street, received a complaint from a customer about the panhandler at approximately 1 p.m.

The manager asked Underwood to leave. He complained, but did walk out of the building.

Police said the suspect then went to the drive-thru area and resumed panhandling.

The manager again told him to leave, at which point Underwood became angry and pushed the victim several times, police said.

Underwood then allegedly grabbed the victim, pressed a knife against his upper body and threatened to kill him. He also used racial slurs and made comments about the manager's sexual orientation, police said.

Anyone with information about the assault was asked to call detectives at (213) 972-1203.

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