Hate crime alleged in beating of black homeless man

COSTA MESA — Two men and a woman were taken into custody Monday night after police responded to reports of a homeless man being beaten and arrived to find one of the suspects kicking the victim in the head.

According to police, Charles Durliat, 38, William Shoop, 24, and Jodie Brummett, 21, were arrested on several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and committing a hate crime on the man.

Leading up to the assault, police say the homeless, African American man asked Brummett for a cigarette while outside the Westside Bar near 19th Street and Harbor Boulevard. Two men accompanying Brummett answered the request by chasing the homeless man down 19th Street while screaming threats and racial slurs, reported police.

When police arrived, the two attackers were assaulting the homeless man, with suspect Shoop kicking him in the head. Police noted that one of the suspects also pulled a knife but it wasn’t used.

Along with the assault and hate crime charges, Durliat faces drug and gang charges as well.