Authorities seek man who hit agricultural inspector in head with hammer

California authorities are seeking a man who attacked an agriculture inspector with a small sledgehammer at the Topaz Agricultural Inspection Station along Highway 395 on Thursday night.

The attack occurred at about 8:45 p.m. while the 70-year-old inspector was in front of the computer station.

The attacker was described as a white unshaven man in his mid-30s, a thin built about 6-feet tall with medium length red hair.

He was last seen wearing soiled jeans, a faded orange T-shirt and tennis shoes.

According to witnesses the attacker entered the passenger side of a vehicle and drove south. There is no description of the vehicle. The inspector declined medical aid from Antelope Valley Fire and drove himself home.

The inspector was struck in the back of the head and the left side of his face before fighting the attacker off, who then ran 200 yards to the waiting vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect or this incident, is asked to call the California Highway Patrol’s Bishop Inland Communications Center at (760) 872-5900 and ask to be placed in contact with Officer Montoya or Sgt. Henderson.