Homeless man accused of assaulting motorcyclist with hockey stick

A 52-year-old homeless man was arrested early Wednesday in Costa Mesa on suspicion of assaulting a motorcyclist with a hockey stick, police said.

Christopher Oreski was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Sgt. Bang Le said.

Police were sent to an Arco gas station in the 3200 block of Harbor Boulevard near Gisler Avenue at about 3 a.m. after receiving a report of the assault, Le said.

The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was struck in the head and an arm, police said. He reported that his arm was sore, Le said.

The alleged attacker and the motorcyclist, who was not identified, didn’t know each other, and it wasn’t clear what prompted the altercation, police said. Le said the attacker seemed paranoid.

“He thought people were after him,” Le said.

Officers found Oreski, and a hockey stick, at a nearby Chevron gas station, and he was arrested, Le said.