Two female hikers were the victims of an assault and attempted robbery in the Cold Canyon area of Lake Berryessa on Friday afternoon, according to the Solano County Sheriff’s Office.
The two women, ages 18 and 59, were hiking in the canyon at about 3 p.m. on Friday when they were approached by a Hispanic male who displayed a handgun and forced the two women off the trail and into a secluded area, the sheriff’s office reported.
The suspect, described as about 25 years old, standing 5-foot-5 or 5-foot-6 with short black hair, assaulted one of the women, demanded money and fled the area on foot.
He was last seen wearing a burgundy shirt, black pants and gray-and-white tennis shoes. The victims reported that the suspect spoke in broken English with a heavy accent.
Given the popularity of the Cold Canyon area among local hikers, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office believes people may have seen the suspect Friday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Andrew Hendrix at 707-784-7084. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 707-644-7867.
In the meantime, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office is urging hikers to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings, hike in groups and report any suspicious activity to the dispatch center by calling 707-421-7090.
— Reach Anne Ternus-Bellamy at aternus@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8051. Follow her on Twitter at @ATernusBellamy