By Lookout Staff

August 10, 2023 -- A homeless man was arrested for attempted murder early Wednesday morning in the beating of another homeless man outside the public library branch in Ocean Park, according to police.

Suspect Nathanael Roger Lavoie (Courtesy SMPD)

Officers responded shortly to a Check the Status call for service made shortly after 8 a.m. by a library employee, said Lt. Erike Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson. The employee had "tried to wake up a homeless male at the front doors and discovered he was badly injured," Aklufi said. Officers found the victim, a 41-year-old male, with "blunt force trauma to his face and a swollen forehead," Aklufi said.

The unconscious victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition Friday morning, she said. He is expected to survive.

At around 12:35 p.m., detectives investigating the incident spotted a person of interest loitering in the front of the library, Aklufi said.

"Upon contact with the suspect, he became uncooperative and threatening in his behavior," she said.

"Additional responding officers deployed a taser after the subject attempted to assault uniformed officers."

The suspect, identified as Nathanael Roger Lavoie, 40, was booked for attempted murder, felony battery on a police officer, giving a false name to a police officer and resisting arrest, according to police.

Wednesday's attack comes less than two weeks after a homeless suspect fatally stabbed a 27-year-old man at Santa Monica Beach on July 31, marking the year's first homicide ("Man Fatally Stabbed at Santa Monica Beach," August 1, 2023).

Anyone with information related to Wednesday's crime or suspect should call the SMPD Investigations Division during business hours at (310) 458-8451 or the Watch Commander 24-hours at (310) 458-8427.