Transient Man Assaulted In Sonora

Sonora, CA — The Sonora Police Department is investigating an incident where a transient man looking for recyclables was attacked by three unknown males.

The PD reports that 52-year-old Benjamin Barnow stated that he was hit in the head with a stick, or possibly a baseball bat, while looking through a receptacle at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Barnow reports that he did not know the three men involved, but described them as being between 20-30 years of age. Barnow was airlifted to a Modesto hospital to treat his injuries. Since the attack occurred on state property (fairgrounds), the California Highway Patrol is also involved in the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call either the Sonora Police Department at 209-532-8141, or the Jamestown Office of the California Highway Patrol at 209-984-3944. The incident reportedly happened at around 7:40pm on October 7.