Police Nab Suspect Who Assaulted, Robbed Sleeping Man in his Tent

Culver City police have arrested a man who allegedly hit another man in the head with a hammer and robbed him on Sepulveda Boulevard last week.

The assault and robbery occurred on Oct. 5 in in a tent at an encampment near at the Shell Gas Station on 3801 Sepulveda Blvd.

Culver City Police Department had received a call at 5:30 a.m. regarding a man who was bleeding profusely from a head wound.

When officers arrived at the scene, the victim told them he was sleeping in his tent "when two suspects walked in, pepper-sprayed him, and then struck him in the head with a hammer," CCPD said in a statement.

The suspects then stole $500 in cash and a Samsung Galaxy cell from the victim and fled the area, police said.

The Culver City Fire Department transported the man to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition and undergoing emergency surgery, police said.

Culver City detectives conducted a thorough investigation and identified a suspect who had an "extensive arrest history," CCPD said. "A judge granted an arrest warrant for the suspect, as well as a search warrant for the Culver City motel room where he was believed to be currently residing," police said.

On October 7, police arrested without incident 32-year-old Anthony Paul Yanez on suspicion of robbery and aggravated assault. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office later charged Yanez with one criminal count of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

Authorities did not release any additional information about the possible second suspect.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call CCPD Public Information Officer Sergeant Edward Baskaron at 310-235-6316 or the Watch Commander at 310-253-6202.