This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah Highway Patrol troopers on Friday were looking for a baseball bat-wielding beggar after he allegedly attacked a man with a bat at a pullout along Interstate 80 in Tooele County.
UHP Sgt. Todd Royce said the incident occurred at 4:57 a.m. near mile marker 100, about 11 miles northwest of Tooele.
The victim told troopers he had pulled over and was sleeping in his car when the suspect approached the vehicle and asked for money. The victim refused, and a short time later the suspect returned with the bat, broke out the car's windows and then began beating him about the head.
After the attack, the victim was able to drive about a mile to the Flying J Travel Plaza, where he staggered into the truck stop to seek help. A 911 call summoned troopers to the scene.
The victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition, though he was later reported to have been stabilized.
The suspect was described as a heavy-set white male wearing a black jacket and black bandana. Troopers, who also enlisted the help of area law enforcement, were checking along I-80 and transient communities for leads.
Royce said anyone with tips on the suspect is asked to call their local police, who will then forward the information on to UHP.
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