Homeless man injured 3-year-old, police say

COSTA MESA — Police have arrested a local homeless man for allegedly throwing an object at a 3-year-old child in Lions Park.

David Banks, 42, who police identified as homeless in Costa Mesa, was arrested in connection with the incident. He was charged with felony child cruelty, assault and battery, assaulting an officer, felony vandalism to a police unit and obstruction of justice.

Police received a call about 2:10 p.m. Tuesday of a man hitting a young child and making the child cry in Lions Park, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Bryan Glass.

When officers responded, they saw the 3-year-old with a visible mark from where a ball had hit the child, Glass said.

When officers tried talking to Banks about the incident, he tried to walk away and was generally uncooperative, Glass said.

While en route to the station, Banks kicked out a rear window of the squad car and was later charged with felony vandalism, Glass said.

—Lauren Williams