November 17

Stargazers Assaulted

OREGON CITY, OR: An unknown assailant assaulted a couple at the Haggart Observatory on the campus of Clackamas Community College early Saturday.

According to the couple, they were taking a break from stargazing in their pickup truck at about 2 a.m. when a man wearing a hood or scarf over his head approached the driver’s side. The assailant dragged the two from the truck and proceeded to hit and kick them, though he stopped abruptly when both curled into protective positions. He stole a wallet, purse, cell phone and car keys, then fled toward Beavercreek Road.

Witnesses differ on the sequence of events, according to Clackamas County Sheriff’s Deputy Elliot Forstenberg. Another stargazer at the observatory suggests the couple may have verbally antagonized the assailant before the assault.

The keys, cell phone, wallet and purse were later recovered from where the assailant apparently dropped them near the corner of Beavercreek Road and Trails End Highway about a quarter mile from the scene of the assault. Only cash was taken.