Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Naked Man Beats 75-Year-Old Woman And Swings Her Dog Around, Police Say
A naked man allegedly attacked an Orange County woman with a stick and swung her dog around, before police arrested him.
On Tuesday around 2:30 p.m., 75-year-old Sara Hurtado was walking her dog near her home on Rockwood Street in Irvine's Woodbridge neighborhood, when she was suddenly attacked by a naked man wielding a stick, reports CBS LA. The man reportedly knocked Hurtado to the ground and began beating her with the stick. “He sat over her and he started beating her on the face, on the upper chest,” Rocio Fitzsimons, Hurtado’s daughter, told CBS LA.
The man then took the family's small dog, Dukay, and began swinging it by the leash, according to Neil Fitzsimons, Hurtado's son-in-law. “Our dog must have upset him by interfering. He took the dog by the leash and starting spinning it around.”
When Irvine police arrived, they found the man—now identified as Craig Andrew Ledbetter, 51, naked and swinging a stick. Ledbetter reportedly acted aggressively toward police before they subdued him using Tasers, reports the L.A. Times.
Support for LAist comes from
Hours earlier in the day, police had received other reports of Ledbetter acting strangely, but had cause for arrest at that point.
Ledbetter has been charged with aggravated assault, elder abuse, animal cruelty and resisting a police officer. There is reportedly no known connection between him and Hurtado and the incident is still under investigation.
Hurtado was hospitalized with a dislocated arm, internal bleeding, and swollen eyes.
Anyone with information about the case should call Detective Gavin Hudson at (949) 724-7168.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist