Family violently assaulted while fishing in Placer County; bystanders tackle and restrain suspect
By Daniel Macht, Esteban Reynoso
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AUBURN, California (KCRA) — Bystanders tackled and restrained a man who was assaulting a family at Chana Park in North Auburn last month, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.
Alli Reagle, a frequent visitor to the park, expressed her disbelief upon hearing the news.
“My gut reaction was, oh my gosh,” Reagle said.
Reagle, who regularly brings her family of five to the park, emphasized its significance to the Auburn community.
“For the Auburn community, this is the one big park we have,” she said.
A woman had been fishing with her son and her elderly mother on Saturday when they were violently attacked by a 49-year-old man, according to the sheriff’s office. The man knocked over the grandmother, who was in a wheelchair, and she briefly lost consciousness. The woman was repeatedly punched in the head.
Elise Soviar, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said the reason for the attack remains unclear.
“That’s the crazy thing about this attack, the motive is unclear. Appeared to be unprovoked,” Soviar said.
One good Samaritan heard the woman’s cries for help and tackled the attacker. Another man at the park helped restrain the man until deputies arrived.
“They did exactly what I think all of us would want,” Soviar said.
She added, “Having good Samaritans, good neighbors who spring into action and protect one another until official help can arrive, is wonderful.”
The suspect, Michael Appleberry, resisted arrest and later spit blood on medical personnel, according to the sheriff’s office.
“When something like this happens, it does paint it in a bad light, and like oh my gosh, don’t go there. But like I told my daughter, we are gonna go, because if people stop going then the park is going to stop being used,” Reagle said.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that Appleberry had been staying at The Gathering Inn, a homeless shelter in Auburn that partners with Placer County to provide services.
In a statement, The Gathering Inn said, “Because this matter is part of an active law enforcement investigation and involves privacy considerations, we are unable to comment on any individual’s circumstances. Safety is one of The Gathering Inn’s core values.”
He was booked into jail on four felony charges that include battery and causing injury to an elder adult, as well as two misdemeanor charges.
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