Suspect Arrested in Attack on Blind Man in Anaheim

Anaheim - A 23-year-old man, who allegedly attacked a blind man in an Anaheim convenience store, was behind bars today, facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon and driving while intoxicated.

Police say a knock on the restroom door provoked the attack at an am/pm near Ball Road and Bookhurst Street about 8:10 a.m. Friday.

"What happened is the guy tried to use the restroom, so he banged on the door," Anaheim police Lt. K. Switzer said. "That must have irritated the guy who was inside, because he came out and there was a verbal argument between the two."

About that time, Taufa Vaioleti, cousin to the man who was in the restroom, threw a beer at the 44-year-old victim, whose name was withheld. The victim, who was treated at the scene and released, reportedly has one glass eye and is blind in the other.

"He threw a whole 12-ounce can at him, which really did some damage to this blind man," Switzer said.

Vaioleti and his cousin fled but but were caught driving around about two hours later near a home in the 1200 block of Alamo Street, Switzer said. Vaioleti was arrested and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and driving while under the influence.

The other man's name was unavailable.