A woman trying to protect herself from an alleged dog attack instead got bitten by a human.

The incident occurred on the Goldenrod Trail at the Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland, California, on Thursday, January 3. The runner attempted to defend herself against a dog attack on the trail by spraying the animal with pepper spray, according to an alert by the East Bay Regional Park District Police.

Then, the dog’s owner approached the runner, and “a physical altercation ensued,” the alert said. The dog’s owner bit the runner, a police spokesman told Runner’s World. The runner shot a video on her phone of the suspect as she walked away.

The alert, which originally requested the public’s help in identifying the suspect, called the bite wounds a “significant injury.” Photos of the wounds, along with a still from the video, were released by the police department.



According to the alert, which was posted to the police department’s Facebook page, a warrant was issued by the Alameda County Judge, and an arrest was made. East Bay Regional Park District Police Investigators interviewed the suspect, who was identified as a 19-year-old woman from Oakland.

The woman was booked for the associated charges at Santa Rita Jail. According to a statement provided to Runner’s World from the suspect’s attorney, the suspect intends to fight the charges. She claims there was no actual attack, and that the runner overreacted, attacking her first when she tried to stop her from using the pepper spray.

Editor’s note: This story was updated since its original publication to add a statement from the suspect’s attorney.

Jordan Smith Digital Editor Her love of all things outdoors came from growing up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and her passion for running was sparked by local elementary school cross-country meets.

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