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Naked man is on the run after assaulting elderly Salt Lake woman

Posted at 9:01 AM, Oct 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-20 20:25:16-04

SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake City Police are searching for a naked man who hit an elderly woman in the face during an home invasion on Friday.

Police say they are having a difficult time finding the suspect because they don't have a solid description, just that the man was not wearing any clothes.

Neighbors first called police about a naked man who was trying to break into a car on the 1100 block of Morton Drive.

“I heard a thud and I went out to see what might be,” said Vicki Kirkman. “I saw a naked younger man trying to open my car door.”

After being spotted, witnesses say the suspect went to an elderly couple's house across the street, argued with them and hit the 70-year-old woman in the face.

“The door was unlocked so he let himself in, and once he was inside the house he got into an argument with the individuals inside the house and at some point he struck the elderly woman and left the scene,” said Salt Lake City Police Det. Richard Chipping.

Police are not sure why the man was nude but suspect it could be due to drugs or a physical or mental health issue.

"Usually when someone's not wearing clothing, that's indicating that something strange is going on and they are going to be acting erratically, or confused at the very least," added Chipping.

Authorities describe the suspect as an African American man who is about six feet tall and 30 to 40 years old.

Vicki Kirkman said the encounter with the naked intruder was very scary.

“It’s upsetting,” she said. “I think I’m going to upgrade the security around my home.”