Homeless Fugitive From Florida Charged In Santa Monica Stabbing: Police

SANTA MONICA, CA — A homeless fugitive wanted in Florida was arrested recently on suspicion of stabbing another homeless man in downtown Santa Monica, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Damian Garcia, 23, pleaded not guilty on Friday to a charge of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury in connection to the Oct. 16 attack, according to police.

Police responded to the 500 block of Broadway on Oct. 16 at around 7 p.m., where they found a man suffering from a stab wound bleeding on the sidewalk. The victim, who is also homeless, provided a description of the suspect. He was transported to a local hospital in serious condition, police said.

Detectives identified Garcia as the suspect through surveillance video and a follow-up investigation, police said.

Police arrested Garcia on Oct. 23. He had recently arrived to Santa Monica from Florida, where he is wanted on a fugitive warrant, police said.

Garcia, who has a past criminal history, is being held on the warrant in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and is expected to be extradited to Florida, police said.