Case # 19NF1502
Attacks left one person unconscious, two others with serious injuries
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Placentia man has been charged with attempted murder and five other felonies for trying to stomp a man to death at a Buena Park bus stop, stealing his bicycle, and attacking another man at the OCTA Bus Depot in Fullerton in a similar attack less than two hours later. He also attacked a Good Samaritan who attempted to stop one of the assaults.
Kenneth Alexander Heimlich III, 33 of Placentia, has been charged with one felony count of attempted murder, two felony counts of 2nd degree robbery, three felony counts of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury. Heimlich has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of battery on an officer, along with enhancements for rendering one of his victims comatose as a result of the brain injury he inflicted on him, and great bodily injury.
He faces a maximum sentence of 18 years, 8 months in state prison and one year in the county jail. He is currently being held on $500,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 8, 2019 in Department N12.
At approximately 8:15 a.m. on June 12, Buena Park police officers responded to a bus stop at Beach Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue regarding an assault and found an unconscious 65-year-old man with serious head injuries.
The victim and his attacker had been riding on the same bus when they exited and they began arguing.
Witnesses told officers the victim had been pushed to the ground and into the street by a man, later identified as Heimlich, who then proceeded to kick and stomp the victim repeatedly in the head, leaving him unconscious. Heimlich is accused of stealing the unconscious victim’s bicycle and fleeing eastbound on Orangethorpe.
The attack was captured on surveillance video, which was later released on social media by Buena Park police in an attempt to identify the suspect.
At approximately 10 a.m. on June 12, Fullerton police responded to a report of an assault at the OCTA Bus Depot at 123 E. Santa Fe, where they made contact with a man later identified as Kenneth Heimlich III.
Initial investigation by police officers indicated Heimlich was involved in a verbal argument with a 56-year-old man at the bus depot. Heimlich began punching and kicking the man, causing him to fall on the ground.
A 17-year-old at the bus stop attempted to stop the assault, and was also attacked by Heimlich. Heimlich removed the 56-year-old victim’s wallet from his pants and stole $47. Officers arrived on scene and arrested Heimlich.
During the investigation, a Fullerton Police Detective recognized Heimlich as possibly being involved in the assault that occurred in Buena Park. Buena Park Police Detectives were able to positively identify Heimlich as being the man seen in the video assaulting the 65-year-old male in Buena Park just hours before the Fullerton assault.
Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Wah is prosecuting this case.