Stranger tries to strangle fisherman from behind in ‘unprovoked’ attack, CA cops say

A man accused of trying to strangle a fisherman in an “unprovoked” attack was arrested, California police say.

John Broeksmit, 31, was charged with attempted murder in relation to the Sept. 19 incident, the Santa Monica Police Department said in a Sept. 25 news release.

An angler was fishing at the waterline a short distance from the Santa Monica Pier when a man, later identified as Broeksmit, approached from behind and tried to strangle him, police said.

The fisherman called 911; however, Broeksmit fled before officers arrived, police said.

The two men did not know one another, according to police.

The angler was taken to a hospital for “non-life-threatening injuries to his neck,” police said.

While canvassing the beach, officers found Broeksmit, who matched the angler’s and witnesses’ descriptions, police said. He was arrested.

Broeksmit has had a number of run-ins with California law enforcement this year, including arrests on counts of “public intoxication, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and tampering with a firearm,” police said.

Just four days before the “unprovoked attack,” the Los Angeles Police Department arrested Broeksmit on burglary and public intoxication charges, according to Santa Monica police.

Broeksmit, who is being held on $2 million bail, is expected to appear in court Oct. 8, online jail records show.

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