Watch CBS News

Woman Assaulted When Dog Walk Turns Violent Near Glen Ellen

SONOMA (CBS SF) -- A 60-year-old woman walking her dog in a Sonoma County park near Glen Ellen Sunday morning was attacked by a man after their dogs got into a fight, according to the sheriff's office.

The woman said the assault happened on a trail in Sonoma Valley Regional Park at about 8:50 a.m., the sheriff's office said.

The victim's dog and the suspect's dog apparently got into a brief fight, after which the man walked up to her and put his dog's leash around her neck and started yelling, the sheriff's office said.

When she fought him off and threatened to take his photograph with her cell phone, he apparently grabbed the phone and threw it into a nearby lake, the sheriff's office said.

The suspect then kicked the victim's dog and ran out of the park toward Arnold Drive.

The victim, who was not injured, flagged down a hiker who called the sheriff's office.

The suspect was described as a white male around 50 years old, standing between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall with a thin build. He had gray hair and a brown and gray beard. He was wearing a red baseball hat, a blue vest, shorts and a fanny pack.

The suspect's dig was described as an Australian Shepherd that was brown and white in color.

Anyone who might have information about the suspect is asked to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office at (707) 565-2121.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.