Suspect Arrested For Beating Man Unconscious, Stealing His Bike In Buena Park Attack Caught On Video
BUENA PARK (CBSLA) – A 65-year-old man was left unconscious after being badly beaten and then having his bike stolen at a bus stop in Buena Park Wednesday morning in an attack caught on surveillance video.
The suspect, who is believed to have committed a similar attack later that same morning in Fullerton, is under arrest, authorities confirmed to CBS2 Friday. He has been identified as 33-year-old Kenneth Heimlich of Placentia.
The first attack occurred at around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday at a bus stop at Beach Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue, according to Buena Park police.
Witnesses told police the male suspect shoved the victim to the ground and then kicked and stomped on his head. A portion of the assault was captured on surveillance video from a passing bus.
"At one point the suspect pushed the male victim down into the street and began to repeatedly kick and stomp him in the head area," Buena Park police Sgt. Michael Lovchik said.
The suspect then stole the victim's and rode away eastbound on Orangethorpe Avenue, police said.
Witnesses said the two men were involved in an argument prior to the attack. However, police believe the attack was unprovoked.
"This was truly a one-sided fight and there was absolutely no justification for the assault that occurred," Lovchik said.
Police said the victim was in critical but stable condition Friday, but he remains unconscious however.
Following the first attack, Heimlich is suspected of biking to the Fullerton Transportation Center, where he committed a similar attack which left a victim with serious injuries. He was eventually arrested by Fullerton police.
"The distance between where the incident occurred in Buena Park and Fullerton is probably only a couple or few miles, so he could have very easily peddled all the way over to the other location," Lovchik said.
The details of that second attack were not confirmed. The victim's condition was also not released.
