You don’t hear about this happening every day, unfortunately…

Deputies: Naked man talking about Sasquatch attacks hunter

By KATU.com Staff Published: Oct 10, 2013 at 11:28 PM PDT

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. – A naked man talking about Sasquatch used a rock to attack a hunter in rural Washington County on Thursday morning, deputies said.

Investigators said the naked man hit the hunter repeatedly in the head with a rock, but the hunter managed to eventually fight off his attacker. He held the man at bay with his hunting rifle until deputies arrived.

The hunter suffered broken fingers, a dislocated shoulder and an eye injury, but will recover, according to his daughter.

According to Sgt. Bob Ray with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the attacker was 20-year-old Linus Norgren of Banks. The daughter said Norgren was a neighbor.

Norgren used an apple-sized rock to hit the hunter and also tried to strangle him with a piece of clothing, Ray said. Investigators said they aren’t sure why Norgren attacked the hunter or why he was naked.

The victim told police that Norgren was making Sasquatch references. Investigators said he was under the influence of something, but they haven’t said what.

The 58-year-old hunter, Jeff McDonald, managed to call deputies once he had Norgren at bay. County deputies and state police troopers searched the heavily wooded area near Manning and used air horns to try to find the victim.

As they closed in on foot, the deputies heard the hunter blow a whistle and eventually found the man, Ray said.

The search took more than 90 minutes because the forest was so thick and steep, Ray said.

McDonald is not an avid hunter, but was out in the woods behind his neighborhood where he often hikes, his daughter, Sierra, said.

McDonald and his accused attacker know each other – at least a little, because they are neighbors. Sierra said she met Norgren at least once before and never thought he would be capable of attacking her father.

She said Norgren was yelling that he came from a long family line of Sasquatches.

In reality, Norgren’s father is a well-known mushroom picker. He owns a street-side stand off Highway 26 that’s garnered national attention.

No one was there Thursday and no one wanted to talk at their home.

Norgren was arrested and faces charges of assault, strangulation and menacing. Ray said more charges could be filed as the investigation continues. His bail is set at $250,000. He’s scheduled to be in court Friday.

KATU News reporter Erica Nochlin contributed to this report.