Naked man in Irvine attacks woman, 75, and her dog, police say

Irvine police have arrested a man suspected of assaulting an elderly woman and her dog.

Craig Andrew Ledbetter, 51, of Irvine was taken into custody Tuesday after police received a report about 2:30 p.m. of a man acting strangely on Rockwood, in Irvine’s Woodbridge neighborhood.

When officers arrived, they found a man who was naked and “swinging a stick aggressively,” according to a news release. He also acted aggressively toward the responding police, who subdued him with Tasers, authorities said.

According to police, Ledbetter is suspected of assaulting a 75-year-old woman before forcibly taking her dog, who was able to run away.

City animal services later located the dog. It was uninjured.

The woman was taken to a hospital and is being treated for injuries.

Ledbetter was charged with aggravated assault, elder abuse, resisting a police officer and animal cruelty. Irvine police aren’t sure what might have motivated Ledbetter and believe he did not know the woman.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Ledbetter remained in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail. County jail records list his occupation as a student.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Gavin Hudson at (949) 724-7168.