A violent incident occurred in Brentwood on June 23, when a gardener was attacked while working outside a home. The victim, Rodolfo Roman, was beaten by a man during his landscaping duties on the 11900 block of Dorothy Street. The assailant, a shirtless man wielding a large stick, assaulted Roman after complaining about the noise from his lawn tools, KTLA reports. Roman, who asked the man to leave before the beating, received a large gash on his head requiring staples, and his arm was broken in the onslaught.
"I was very scared," Roman told KTLA’s Jennifer McGraw. "My legs were shaking and I’m down on the ground." Surveillance video from the area shows the disturbing moments as Roman is hit over the head with the object, initially from behind, CBS News Los Angeles obtained footage of the incident. The attacker continued to strike even as Roman fell to the ground.
This traumatic event comes amid escalating tensions surrounding a vacant property on the street, which neighbors have said houses squatters and has seen a rise in criminal activity. Sean Heffron, a neighbor of the victim, said to KTLA, "The police have been called multiple times." In fact, the abandoned residence has been a source of consternation for locals for over a decade, with reports of squatters like the assailant exacerbating the distress.
Frustrated neighbors have repeatedly appealed to officials for resolution but to little avail, as Heffron noted in his statement to CBS News Los Angeles, saying "Nothing has happened." The suspect, following the attack, was taken into custody after being found by police near Bundy Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard in the Sawtelle neighborhood, KTLA reported. His identity has not been disclosed.
As Roman recovers from his injuries, concerns for his welfare and ability to work have led to the creation of a GoFundMe page to assist with his medical expenses, according to a report from ABC7. City Councilwoman Tracy Park, representing Brentwood, has made commitments to address the broader issue by cleaning up the homeless encampment related to the incident.
