Dog Protects Owner From Sex Assault Suspect



A man accused of sexually assaulting a young woman in Vista was chased away by the woman’s dog, whose instinct was to protect its owner at all costs.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) said the 19-year-old victim was walking her dog in the 700 block of Grapevine Road in Vista Monday at around 6:30 p.m. when an unknown man attacked her from behind.

SDSO Lt. Dan Brislin said the suspect forced the woman to the ground and groped her body.

The woman fought back and called out to her dog for help. Investigators said the dog began barking and, at one point, may have bitten the man. With the dog on his tail, the man stopped attacking the victim and ran away.

The dog chased after him, the SDSO said. The suspect was last seen running eastbound on Planet Road, with the dog trailing behind him.

A short time later, the dog returned to its owner. The dog was not harmed.

The sex assault suspect remains at large. The SDSO said he’s described as a 25-year-old man who stands at approximately 5-foot-6 and weighs 160 to 180 pounds. He wore a dark-colored beanie, a dark-colored hoodie and pants during the assault.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with details on this case can reach out to Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Published 2 minutes ago

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