Man charged with throwing Molotov cocktail at 2 homeless men in Anaheim

A Garden Grove man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at two homeless men in Anaheim has been charged with assault and attempted arson, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Andrew Eric Mongerson, 29, has pleaded not guilty to felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of flammable material and attempted arson, court records show.

Prosecutors allege that Mongerson, shortly after 1:30 p.m. on June 27, threw the alleged incendiary device he had constructed at two homeless men on Katella while he rode by them on his bike.

One of the homeless men was sitting inside a makeshift tent, prosecutors said, while the other was sitting outside the tent, near a bus stop.

The glass from the Molotov cocktail shattered near the men, according to the DA’s office.

Neither of the men were injured, and their belongings were not damaged. Prosecutors allege that Mongerson yelled insults at the men as he rode away.

A witness called the Anaheim Police Department. Detectives arrested Mongerson on June 30. He is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on July 12.

If convicted, Mongerson faces up to five years and four months in prison.