A man who destroyed signs, tried to break windows with a fire extinguisher and smashed windows at a Hillcrest complex caused more than $20,000 in damages, in part at a local hospital, San Diego Police said.
The incident happened at 4:57 a.m. Tuesday when officers received a report of a man trying to break windows at a building on University Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets, police said.
When authorities arrived on scene, they saw a man, later identified as 24-year-old Nicholas Adler, destroying signs and trying to break windows with a fire extinguisher.
A security guard at the building showed NBC 7 some of the damage: smashed windows, bathroom signs ripped off, a broken door handle, doors smashed in, and broken potted plants.
Two of the smashed windows were at a local hospital’s ICU, according to a security guard. The other damage was to officers and bathrooms on the fourth floor balcony.
Police said a security guard saw the suspect get down from the fourth floor by climbing down the side of the building.
When officers tried to arrest him, he fled the scene. Adler was ultimately bitten and apprehended by a K-9 unit.
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Adler was at a local hospital for treatment; he was booked into jail on charges of felony vandalism, resisting arrest, and being under influence of a controlled substance.
No other information was immediately available.
