Sonora, CA…Sunday afternoon, deputies responded to an assault call at a residence on Rugged Trail in Sonora. When deputies arrived, the elderly victim told them he was attacked outside his home by an unknown man wielding a hammer. The victim struggled with his attacker until another unknown man showed up and pulled the attacker off the victim. The victim quickly retreated into his home and called law enforcement. The victim sustained moderate injuries to his legs and arms from the attack.

The attacker, later identified as 35-year-old Tyler Fernandez of Soulsbyville, was no longer on scene. The victim was able to provide deputies with a direction Tyler and the other man had fled. Deputy V. Lee deployed his K9 partner Zeus in attempt to track and locate Tyler. K9 Zues led deputies approximately a quarter mile to a vehicle parked along the roadway. Sitting inside the front passenger seat was Tyler. Tyler was ordered out of the vehicle and placed into handcuffs. The other unknown man was later identified as a family member of Tyler’s who heard the commotion and intervened.

It was later discovered Tyler lived near the location he was found. The investigation revealed no clear motive for the attack. Tyler was subsequently arrested for elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.