UPDATE: Man accused of attacking teen with mallet on bike path in Centerville

CENTERVILLE — A 17-year-old girl was attacked with a mallet on the Iron Horse Park bike trail in what police are calling a random attack, where a neighbor intervened to help the victim escape.

Officers responded to the park around 2:15 p.m. Thursday after being called about the attack.

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“I heard someone screaming and I live right close to the bike trail,” a 911 caller said. “I went down there…he was hitting her on the head with a mallet.”

Johnny Hansen, 33, is charged with two counts of felonious assault with sexual motivation specifications, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of tampering with evidence, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. He’s being held in the Montgomery County Jail awaiting his arraignment Monday morning.

According to court records, “the victim reported that she was attacked from behind by a male she had passed on the bike path and she was hit multiple times in the head.” She had “numerous large open gashes on her head and was covered in blood,” when police found her.

The mallet said to be used in the attack was found and was covered in blood, according to an affidavit.

Hansen told police “a male came out on the path to stop him and this was the only reason he stopped hitting the female.”

“It’s so unusual for something like this to happen in Centerville,” said Officer John Davis with Centerville police. “The neighborhood stepped up and helped,” Davis said.

Police said the victim and Hansen did not know each other.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as serious, but not life threatening. Davis said if the neighbor hadn’t intervened the outcome of the attack could have been much worse.

Cox Media Group