Man accused of pepper spraying homeless men

Costa Mesa police have arrested a Long Beach man accused of pepper spraying two homeless men.

The 21-year-old man sprayed two transients who were sleeping around the Costa Mesa Courtyards shopping center, near Lions Park, at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday, police said. They have declined to publicly identify the suspect.

He used a canister of bear repellent, said Lt. Greg Scott.

The man claimed to be a security guard, though police were unable to confirm his affiliation with any security firm.

He also admitted to using pepper spray against people in Anaheim and Santa Ana, Scott said.

The man told police that one of the homeless men raised a metal bar against him in a “threatening manner,” Scott said.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of illegally using tear gas, but has been released on the promise to appear in court.

The investigation is continuing.

—Bradley Zint and Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @thedailypilot