Gateway Trailhead Assault: Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Attack

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged on suspicion of assaulting a woman with a baseball bat and burglarizing a city vehicle at Gateway Trailhead, according to Scottsdale Police.

Wesley Abeita of Phoenix is charged on suspicion of attempted second degree murder, aggravated assault, vehicle burglary, disorderly conduct and criminal damage. He was still in police custody as of Tuesday evening.

Abeita is accused of damaging vehicles parked at the trailhead Monday evening and using a baseball bat to assault a woman who was sitting in a parked vehicle, police said in a news release. The woman's family took her to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries, police said.

Bystanders threw rocks at Abeita in an attempt to stop the assault, but he is accused of attacking them, forcing them to flee, police said.

Abeita was gone when police arrived Monday. They searched for Abeita but couldn't find him Monday night, according to police.

On Tuesday morning, Abeita is accused of burglarizing a city vehicle parked at the trailhead. He was arrested near the trailhead that morning, police said.