Long Beach, California, is grappling with a growing crisis as local business owners and residents express concern over an escalating issue of homelessness, mental illness, and drug addiction.
The situation has reportedly deteriorated to the point where it is affecting the safety and quality of life in the area.
A hair salon in the city, Salon 500, has been at the epicenter of the crisis. A recent incident involving a homeless man committing a lewd act in broad daylight outside the salon has sparked outrage and fear among the community. "He just came to the window and started masturbating. We kept telling him to stop and banged on the window and he wouldn't move," recounted Salon 500 owner Valeska Quinones.
The incident was captured on video and reported by Fox 11 Los Angeles. The reporter described the man as "staring at women through a window at this nail salon. His hand is inside his pants, committing a lewd act right in broad daylight."
Zoe Garcia, a local resident who witnessed the incident, called the police. However, she expressed frustration at the slow response time. "[Police] took two hours to arrive, Garcia told KTLA reporter John Fenoglio. Most times, they dont even come out.
This incident comes on the heels of another disturbing event outside the same salon. A woman named Rebekah Pederson was allegedly sexually assaulted by a different homeless man, Miguel Avila. The suspect reportedly exposed himself before attacking Pederson from behind. An elderly man nearby intervened, pepper-spraying the suspect who then fled the scene.
Avila was later charged with sexual battery and vandalism, both misdemeanors. The charges, however, have been met with criticism, particularly from the victim. Nobody in their right mind looked at that video and thought anything less than attempted rape, Pederson said.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office confirmed to KTLA that it received a request from the city's attorney for more serious charges. The office stated that the case was "carefully reviewed previously" and will be sent to the head deputy of the sex crimes division for further review.
Avila remains in jail with a $75,000 bond and is due back in court on November 8, 2023. Meanwhile, the search continues for the suspect involved in the lewd act outside Salon 500.
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