Police search for possible attacker

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Police are looking for a 44-year-old man who is

accused of hitting a woman several times with a wooden club.

The victim told police she was visiting her friend Walter Cordell at

his Superior Avenue homeabout 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when he attacked her

with the club, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Shulman.

“All we know is she ran out of the house and he didn’t pursue her,”

Shulman said.

The woman then walked to Hoag Hospital and was treated for cuts on her

head, he said.

The woman told police she was at Cordell’s home to visit him, that the

attack was completely unprovoked and that there was no argument or

dispute before the assault, Shulman said.

“We also know so far that the two were not boyfriend-girlfriend or

husband and wife,” he added.

Police are now trying to locate Cordell.

“We want to get his side of the story,” he said. “But as of now, we’re

treating this as a case of assault with a deadly weapon.”

Cordell is described as 5-foot-10 and about 160 pounds, with brown

hair and brown eyes. He is also said to have a mustache and a goatee.

Anyone with information about Cordell is asked to call Newport Beach

Police detectives at (800) 550-6273.