Woman attacked with hammer while jogging in Plano park, suspect in custody, police say
A teenager is under arrest and facing serious charges after using a hammer to attack a woman jogging in a park on Thursday afternoon, Plano police said.
The victim was jogging in Bob Woodruff Park off Shiloh Road in the eastern part of the city at around 5 p.m. when the suspect struck her with a hammer, the department said in a news release.
Plano Police Det. Alexandra Cole said the victim fought back and the suspect ran from the scene.
"Given the nature of this incident and this attack, this could have gone so much worse," Cole said. "Luckily, she was brave enough to be able to fight her attacker off in order for this not to be an even more heinous crime than it already was."
Police used items left in multiple areas of the park and identified the suspect as 17-year-old Sergio Noe De Nova Duarte. He was taken into custody and is in the Collin County Jail, charged with aggravated kidnapping with bodily injury, a first-degree felony. Police said when Duarte's fingerprints were processed, they received a notification from Immigration to place him under an ICE hold.
Plano Fire-Rescue took the victim to the hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening, police said.
"At this point in time, we have no idea why this individual chose our victim," said Andrae Smith, public information officer for the Plano Police Department.
Cole said Duarte had no criminal history with the Plano Police Department.
Plano PD said there are no public safety concerns, and the case remains under investigation by the Crimes Against Persons Unit.
"This is a very safe park," Smith said of the 250-acre park. "I would not be discouraged to visit Bob Woodruff Park if I were a resident. Just be mindful of your surroundings."
Plano PD said it is increasing patrols in the area, specifically with the Neighborhood Police Unit, Cole said, which will go to various parks in the city and ride the trails to ensure residents' safety.