GARDINER (AP) — A Gardiner man is facing charges after allegedly using a metal crutch to beat a panhandler he thought was scamming the public.

Police say 55-year-old Cletus Jernigan was charged with aggravated assault after what authorities say was an attack Sunday on 28-year-old Daniel DeGreenia of Farmingdale, who required treatment at the hospital for a minor arm injury.

Chief James Toman told the Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1O2ze24 ) that Jernigan was intoxicated and DeGreenia did nothing to provoke him. DeGreenia, who has had mental and physical ailments since he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in 2000, was holding a sign and asking passers-by for change.

Police say Jernigan said he was “sick and tired of watching Daniel stealing from good people.”

Jernigan remains jailed.