Homeless men say they were attacked; reports spread fear

Reports that a roving gang of thugs is preying on the city’s homeless are spreading fear, anger and some skepticism, but police say they have only spoken to two men claiming to have been attacked.

Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, police said.

Signs posted this week at Marian House Soup Kitchen and other places frequented by the city’s homeless warn of eight attacks in recent weeks in which homeless men were “severely beaten.”

Bob Holmes, an advocate for the homeless who put up the signs, said the attackers might be copying widely publicized videos showing homeless people being attacked or fighting for money.

The two attacks known to police happened May 8. Patrick Addison told officers three or four young white men wielding sticks and pipes attacked him that morning around 10:15 at Monument Valley Park, said police Sgt. Richard Pantle. Mark Luther, a friend who also is homeless, apparently went looking for the men a few hours later and was beaten.

Luther needed nine stitches on his head and suffered internal injuries, police said. Details about Addison’s injuries weren’t available.

Addison was intoxicated and could provide only vague information about what led to the assault or what the suspects looked like, Pantle said. He told investigators he was attacked without warning.

Police have heard rumors of other attacks, and there is another possible victim. Douglas Fortenberry was found May 6 lying on the ground in the 3000 block of Gunnison Street.

Police are investigating the case as an assault because of Fortenberry’s injuries, police spokesman Lt. Rafael Cintron said, but officers have been unable to interview him because of his condition.

Fortenberry was in fair condition Thursday at Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokesperson said.

Few of the men waiting in line for dinner Tuesday evening at the Salvation Army food cart seemed to think attacks on the homeless were anything new. One man, identifying himself only as Randy, said he started staying about seven miles outside town in August when he heard reports of attacks. Others said older people and those who are isolated have been targeted, so they are staying more often in groups.

Another discounted the reports entirely, thinking other homeless people are making up stories about attacks after fights or bad falls.

A homeless man named James, speaking earlier in the day, said the attacks aren’t surprising.

“You know why they do it?” he asked. “They think no one is going to care.”