Elderly Man Seriously Injured Saturday Morning by Unknown Attacker

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who observed a white male, possibly in his 30's, riding a bicycle in the area of Santana Park, Shawnee Drive SE or Shenandoah Ave SE between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of September 12, 2009.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Marion County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to help identify a suspect who seriously injured an elderly man early Saturday morning.

Lieutenant Sheila Lorance with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, says deputies responded to the Salem Hospital Emergency room September 12th at 6:45 a.m. over a report of a 74-year old Salem man who had come in with significant injuries.

"Deputies made contact with the victim, Darrel Valentine, who indicated he had been walking his dog around 4:30 a.m. on the south side of Santana Park" This location is in the 800 Block of Shawnee Drive SE.

Lorance continued, "He said he observed a white male on a bicycle riding northbound on Shawnee Drive SE. Mr. Valentine indicated the suspect stopped several feet in front of him, got off of his bike and approached him."

That is when the suspect reportedly said "Give me your money".

When Mr. Valentine said he didn't have any, the suspect is alleged to have struck him several times in the face with his fist.

"Mr. Valentine remembered falling to the ground and then he passed out. When he woke up he got back on his feet and walked back to his home prior to driving himself to the Emergency Room. Mr. Valentine reported that the suspect was unknown to him and he did not recall ever seeing him in the neighborhood."

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who was in the area of Santana Park, Shawnee Drive SE or Shenandoah Ave SE between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of September 12, 2009, that observed a white male, possibly in his 30's, riding a bicycle. If you have any information about the suspect, you can call MCSO detectives at (503) 540-8007