An allegedly drugged-out man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of entering a woman's home and then attacking her and her puppy in unincorporated Pescadero, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
Jorge Ruiz-Martinez, 23, was booked into jail on suspicion of assault, burglary, elder abuse, animal cruelty and other offenses for an incident that began shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday in the 1600 block of Pescadero Creek Road, sheriff's officials said.
Ruiz-Martinez allegedly entered the home of a 67-year-old woman and tried to force water down her 9-week-old dog's throat in an attempt to drown her, according to the sheriff's office.
The woman was able to free the dog but was pushed by Ruiz-Martinez, who after being pushed outside, quickly reentered the home and began to strangle the woman and pour water down her throat too, sheriff's officials said.
The woman was able to fight off the attack and call 911. Ruiz-Martinez fled but was found in a field still on the victim's property, according to the sheriff's office.
He was found to be in possession of crystal methamphetamine and was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, sheriff's officials said.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt said it does not appear that the suspect and victim knew each other prior to Sunday's incident.
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Ruiz-Martinez was booked into jail on $50,000 bail and remains in custody, according to the sheriff's office.
Anyone with information about the case or the suspect is asked to call sheriff's Detective Ken Clayton at 650-363-4050 or email him at kclayton@smcgov.org. People wishing to remain anonymous can also call 800-547-2700.
