Man Accused of Using Ice Scraper in Assault

A homeless man was charged with felony assault Tuesday for allegedly beating a man in the head Monday night with an ice scraper.

Carlos Linares was taken into custody Tuesday morning when an officer spotted him arguing with his alleged victim on Grove Street in South Norwalk.

Officer Hector Delgado reported stepping out of his cruiser and approaching the men. He said the man who was transported to Norwalk Hospital Monday night for head lacerations pointed to Linares and said he was the man who assaulted him.

Delgado said the 43-year-old victim also said an ice scraper Linares was holding was what he was struck with. Delgado said the ice scraper had dried blood on it and placed Linares under arrest.

Linares allegedly denied attacking the man, saying the victim got into a fight with another man and fell, striking his head against a window.

Delgado reported the victim said he got into a fight with Linares and another man because they stole his blanket and pillow and he tried to recover them. He said the three of them use the scraper to protect themselves when they’re sleeping.

Linares, 40, of no permanent address, was charged with first-degree assault. He was held on $50,000 bond and given a court date of Jan. 10.

Police were called to the South China Restaurant, 44 Woodward Ave., Monday night on a report a man was lying on the sidewalk bleeding from his head. He was transported by ambulance to Norwalk Hospital.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Cotto said doctors used staples and stitches to close the lacerations on his forehead.