Manhunt underway in Payson for person who attacked children at day care

Payson police are looking for man who they say attacked a man with a sledgehammer before walking to a day care and punching five to six preschool children on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Surveillance video from a resident who recorded the man as he walked away was released Friday afternoon. | Payson Police Department

PAYSON — Police say it was an “unfathomable” attack.

On Friday, a man attacked a group of children outside a day care, many of them preschool age, said Payson Police Sgt. Noemi Sandoval. The attack came shortly after the same man allegedly attacked an adult with a sledgehammer nearby, according to police.

Between five and six children — all 5 years old or younger — suffered mostly superficial wounds, Sandoval said. They were all taken to a local hospital where they received treatment, she said. No one was seriously injured, Sandoval said.

The man attacked with a sledgehammer was taken to a hospital in critical condition, she said.

As of Friday afternoon, law enforcers from throughout Utah County had launched a manhunt to find the attacker.

About 10:30 a.m., Payson police were called to the area of 600 East and 500 North on a report of a “disturbance,” according to a prepared statement from police. A woman said a man was striking her neighbor in the head and body with a sledgehammer, police stated.

“The woman called out to the suspect to stop. The suspect then turned his attention to her and walked toward her home, which is also a day care facility,” according to the statement. “The suspect proceeded to strike the children and another adult male with his fists and then fled the area.”

Sandoval said the children were punched and kicked by the man.

The man being attacked with a sledgehammer was transported by medical helicopter to a local hospital, police stated.

Residents were asked to “shelter in place” in their homes as police looked for the attacker. He is described as having long black hair that was tied in a bun, and was last seen wearing a black shirt and black shorts.

Originally, police believed he might be traveling with a second person, but officers later determined the man was by himself.

Police asked residents to check surveillance cameras or doorbell cameras for video of the attacker.

Investigators were also looking at whether an attempted carjacking reported shortly after the attack was related.

This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/341TxNx