Unprovoked attack on homeless California man sleeping on sidewalk caught on video

An apparently unprovoked attack on a homeless man sleeping on a sidewalk in the Tower District shocked residents over the weekend and was an indication of how vulnerable homeless people are in Fresno.

A 47-year-old man who supports the cause only knew about it because Freddy was sleeping on a sidewalk along Olive Avenue west of Van Ness Avenue around 2 a.m. on August 26 when a security camera recorded a second man attacking Freddy without warning.

According to police, a witness saw a man attack another man. Investigators later found the attack on a surveillance camera.

He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center but could not provide further information because he was asleep at the time of the attack, police said Monday.

A man with dark hair wearing a red tracksuit and carrying what appeared to be take-out food kicked Freddy in the head several times and then stomped on him near Cuca's restaurant, a video shows.

An employee at Cuca's, who did not give his name Monday, said he had seen Freddy in the area for at least a year. Freddy would occasionally come in to get water or charge his phone, and there was never a problem.

“He’s a really nice guy,” the employee said on the phone.

According to Dez Martinez, a homeless advocate and executive director of We Are NOT Invisible, a local nonprofit that advocates for homeless rights, Freddy is a face that has been familiar to homeless advocates in the Tower District for some time.

“He doesn't talk to anyone. He keeps to himself and is quiet,” she said on Monday. “I've never seen him cause any problems.”

Martinez said Freddy would accept water or other donations, but was mostly shy and kept to himself. “He loved doughnuts,” she said.

Anyone who is alone on the street can become a target, she says. Many homeless people find safety in a group.

“That's why we need large warehouses,” she said. “People think it's unnecessary disorder, but it's security.”

The attack came against a backdrop of people living on the streets increasingly facing regulations restricting the places where they can rest, camp or stay.

Following approval by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, the Fresno City Council and Fresno County Board of Supervisors gained new authority in August and issued new ordinances prohibiting camping and loitering in public places.

The City Council also passed another ordinance regarding homeless people on private property, which supporters said would fill a loophole in existing city laws.

The disturbing video was also shared on the Facebook page “Please Help Stop Crime in the Tower District” on Friday.

“Please just tell me they caught the monster that attacked him,” said one comment.

“Oh my God, why didn't we know about this sooner? So horrible,” said another.

Fresno police said Monday that they have not made an arrest or identified the attacker. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Guadalupe Olague at 559-287-3921.

Anyone calling with information can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at: 559-498-7867.