Homeless man beaten by juveniles is arrested

YOUNGSTOWN — The homeless man who was assaulted last Thursday by a group of boys on the South Side has been arrested this week.

Thomas Patrick Brodie, 58, was arrested for criminal trespassing Monday. According to reports, officers were called to the McDonald’s on Fifth Avenue near Youngstown State University around 8:30 a.m. because Brodie was yelling, swearing and refusing to leave the business.

Brodie had been given official warnings after similar incidents were reported Oct. 13 and Oct. 21, police said.

The police report describes Brodie’s behavior as “outrageous,” saying he was screaming, refusing to sit in the police cruiser and was seen spitting at an officer.

Police Chief Jimmy Hughes told The Vindicator’s broadcast partner WFMJ that Brodie has a history of aggressive behavior and is not cooperating in identifying who attacked him last week.

In fact, Hughes told WFMJ one of the teenagers questioned about the beating says a rock was thrown at Brodie, but it was in self-defense.

That conflicts with last week's account of the incident by a witness, who said several youths in the Idora neighborhood were "throwing rocks, kicking [Brodie] and just picking on him."

The witness went on to say Brodie is known in the neighborhood and "doesn't bother the neighborhood kids" and sometimes dances for them.