Man Held in Attempted Rape, Assault
A man attempted to rape a woman Friday at Torrey Pines State Beach and then held police at bay for several hours while threatening to commit suicide, police said.
Two joggers shortly before noon found a man armed with a 6-inch hunting knife on top of a woman on the beach, apparently attempting to rape her, police said.
The joggers frightened the man and chased him into a canyon near the north end of Torrey Pines Golf Course, police said.
Police found the man, who identified himself only as Frank, hiding in the bushes of the canyon and attempted to negotiate with him to surrender. Police twice shot the man with a Taser gun, with little effect, police said.
The man threatened to commit suicide several times and threatened police with the knife before surrendering at 4:40 p.m., police said.
The man was turned over to the state police on suspicion of attempted rape, assault with a deadly weapon and displaying a weapon in a deadly manner, San Diego police said.
The woman escaped serious injury.
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