El Cajon

A 73-year-old man who allegedly attacked three elderly women at an El Cajon retirement home earlier this week had been scheduled to be removed from the facility on Feb. 1 because of his hostile behavior, the owner of the facility said Friday.

Joseph Weiss, owner of the Premier Manor Retirement Hotel, said Bernard Nass had been arguing with his neighbors and retirement home administrators for no apparent reason for several weeks.

“He was inconsiderate to his neighbors,” Weiss said. “We would come to his door and ask him to be quieter. We were fed up.” Although his behavior was unfriendly, administrators said, they had no reason to believe he might hurt anyone.

Nass was arrested at the retirement hotel Wednesday after he allegedly struck three female victims on the head with a 13-inch-long knife sharpener. Weiss said Nass had become upset with another female resident in the facility about whether to keep the dining-room door open.

Nass allegedly attacked Lilian Neben, 86, in her room, and assaulted Rose Rozenfeld, 80, and 80-year-old Frada Sampson in the dining room. All three, who suffered minor cuts and bruises to the head and face, have been released from the hospital.

The doors are usually left open so that disabled residents can enter the dining room more easily. Although his room is located down the hallway from the doors, Nass wanted the doors closed for no apparent reason, according to Weiss.