SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – North Bay residents are worried after a homeless man attempted to stab a family on a popular Sonoma County trail.
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According to Santa Rosa police, a family of three was walking with their dog down Joe Rodota Trail on Friday when they came across a figure sleeping under a blanket. As they drew closer, their dog began to bark. A man came out from under the blanket brandishing a knife and lunged at the family, threatening to kill them.
The homeless man ran after the family and continued to threaten them. Part of the confrontation was captured on video by one of the victims, which led police to identify the suspect as Darius Clark, 35.
Clark was arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon.
The Joe Rodota Trail spans eight and a half miles and connects downtown Sebastopol with Santa Rosa. The area has long been a magnet for the houseless who lived in an encampment along the path.
Pedestrians and cyclists are now questioning if the area is safe.
"I've got my eyes open all the time, but you know, you never know," one resident said.
"I guess it's unsafe, probably. I don't know what's going to happen," another resident added. "I wouldn't bike here alone, let's put it that way."
The attempted stabbing comes just months after the county moved many members of the encampment to a sanctioned site downtown.
At one point, 250 people lived on the Joe Rodota Trail. The area was restored in a multi-million dollar project and reopened, but some homeless returned.
"I know it's been pretty dangerous out here. I know there's a lot of different people and a lot of different stories they've had throughout their life and things they've went through, so it's not too surprising," said Jackson, who once lived in a tent on the trail.
Sonoma County officials are now considering stepping up enforcement of the Joe Rodota Trail.
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