Homeless man allegedly assaults woman

Laguna Beach police arrested a homeless man on suspicion of assaulting a 71-year-old woman in a wheelchair, according to authorities.

Ronald David McGrane, 44, a resident of Laguna Beach’s Alternative Sleeping Location, was booked on suspicion of felony assault causing great bodily injury and felony elder abuse, Sgt. Louise Callus wrote in an email.

The incident occurred at 6:08 a.m. Sunday inside the P.O. Box area of the post office at 350 Forest Ave., Callus said.

The woman called police saying a man attacked her and officers found her bloodied on the ground next to her wheelchair, Callus said.

Police checked the area and reviewed video from several cameras in the vicinity.

About 45 minutes later, officers found McGrane on Ocean Avenue at Beach Street, interviewed and then arrested him after inconsistencies in his story, Callus said.

The woman identified McGrane from an in-field lineup at Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, where she was recovering from a split lip, police said, adding she will need plastic surgery to fix correct the 2-inch long cut.

McGrane and the woman know each other in passing, according to police.

—Bryce Alderton