Trial began Wednesday in Baltimore for the man charged with tackling an elderly pro-life activist and beating another so severely that the victim’s face was fractured during a random 2023 attack outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic.

Patrick Brice, 27, arrived for the trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court to face multiple assault and reckless endangerment charges for the incident that left 73-year-old Mark Crosby hospitalized and injured 80-year-old Dick Shaefer.

Police arrested Mr. Brice — who is 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, according to court records — more than a year after the May 2023 attack, which was recorded by the abortion clinic’s surveillance cameras.

The camera footage shows Mr. Brice first approaching volunteer workers at the Planned Parenthood clinic before walking over to talk with Mr. Schaefer, who was praying with Mr. Crosby outside the building.

“Mr. Schaefer advised the suspect spoke with him in an aggressive manner, opposing Mr. Schaefer’s pro-life ideals and without warning tackled him into a large flowerpot,” police said in a report.

The footage shows Mr. Crosby running over to help his friend as the assailant throws the elderly man to the ground and begins whaling on him.

“The video continues and shows the suspect strike Mr. Crosby in the face with a closed fist as Mr. Crosby is on his back on the ground,” police said. “The suspect is then observed standing up and, with extreme force, kicks Mr. Crosby directly in the face.”

Mr. Crosby was rushed to a hospital after suffering a broken orbital bone and cheekbone in the attack, as well as blindness in one eye and injuries to his head and neck.

Mr. Schaefer escaped the assault with minor injuries and was able to recover at home.

Police were not able to track down the suspect until July 2024, when Mr. Brice was taken into custody. He is being represented by a public defender at his trial.

“We refused to rest until justice was served for our clients,” the American Center for Law and Justice, which has Mr. Schaefer as a client, said following the arrest. “Now, it looks like the nightmare for Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Crosby might almost be over. Authorities contacted our clients, informing them that the suspect in this attack has been apprehended.”

The trial is expected to last three days, with jury selection taking place Wednesday morning.

Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Crosby returned to praying outside the Planned Parenthood clinic shortly after the attack, sometimes as often as five days a week.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.