Shelter resident roughed up homeless man in wheelchair, police say

CARLSBAD — A homeless man was arrested Tuesday morning for beating up a fellow resident of a men’s shelter and taking the wheelchair-bound victim’s cash, police said in a release.

Eric M. Harmon, 25, had reportedly been staying at the La Posada De Guadalupe Men’s Shelter about three months when he approached the 67-year-old victim, a long-term resident of the facility located in the 2000 block of Impala Drive.

The victim told police through a Spanish-language interpreter that Harmon had approached him and asked for money. The victim told Harmon that he did not have money to give and Harmon allegedly grabbed him by the throat, punched him and rifled through his pockets, taking cash.

After the robbery, Harmon fled and was contacted by Carlsbad police several blocks away. The victim and a witness both positively identified the suspect. The victim’s cash was recovered. No weapons were seen and the victim did not require medical treatment.

Harmon was booked at the Vista Detention Facility for armed robbery, elder abuse and burglary.