A repeat offender is the suspect accused of attacking a family in Malibu on Sunday, causing serious injuries to a father who was fishing at the beach, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Richard Franck was arrested Sunday for attacking a father at Dan Blocker Beach with a machete.
This is the second time the 32-year-old homeless man has used deadly force in public, according to LASD. The first time was in April, when he threatened a deputy with a knife while the deputy was patrolling encampments in Malibu.
“I have grave concerns over that because someone who’s willing to pull a knife on a peace officer -- in uniform, on duty -- what do they consider someone who’s a civilian?” Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a public safety meeting on Thursday.
The April incident was filed as a misdemeanor, not a felony, and Franck was released, according to LASD Lt.Chad Watters.
“This is a preventable case. Because had that [first incident] been filed as a felony and sustained as felony, that person may have been in custody and avoided the trauma that was inflicted on the victim [on Sunday].”
The sunday attack happened just after noon on Sunday, Aug. 29, as three men and two juveniles walked to Dan Blocker beach to go fishing.
Deputies said the altercation began when Franck and a second suspect, identified as Benjamin Mast, told the group that they were not allowed to be in the area. Soon after, detectives said Franck began throwing rocks at one of the men, approached him and began slashing at him with a machete.
During the struggle the victim was able to grab a nearby stick to block multiple strikes aimed at his head, detectives with the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said.
The victim, who has not been identified, suffered major injuries to his left thumb and shoulder in the attack, detectives said.
In addition to those injuries, the Malibu Times reported that he suffered a cut and disabled tongue, slits to his ear, nose and lip and damage so severe to one of his eyes that it was removed.
Franck was arrested and charged with attempted murder, mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon. Mast was arrested and charged with accessory to a crime. Both remain in custody, according to the LASD.
