Santa Maria California Denny’s Waiter Stabbed; Police Say Victim Of Hate Crime Because He Is Gay

A Santa Maria, California man was arrested early Thursday morning on one charge of attempted murder and one charge of committing a hate crime after an employee at a Denny’s Restaurant was stabbed in the neck and throat, the Santa Maria Times reporting that area police responded to a call of battery at 3:28 am and found the victim, a 30 year old male, outside the restaurant with a laceration to the side of the throat as well as a stab wound to the neck. Lieutenant Dan Ast said “The injuries were not life-threatening and he’s expected to fully recover.” According to Ast, 24 year old Curtis Martin knocked on the window of the Denny’s, which was closed, and asked to use to the washroom. He was let in and inside approached a table where employees had gathered. He asked the victim, a waiter, if he was gay, and when the victim replied yes, Martin began his attack. He had brought the knife with him. He fled in his vehicle, was arrested a shortly thereafter, and remains in a county jail.