HOUSTON – Houston police are searching for a person suspected of attacking two men in April in the Montrose area in broad daylight. Despite releasing a sketch from one attack and a photo from another, no arrests have been made.
Greg Audel , 57, was attacked at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday April 6. Audel was walking his dog near the intersection of Waugh and W. Pierce.
“I saw the guy across the street and there was something about him, I don’t know what it was, I just I took note and then he crossed the street as I approached the corner, and we ended up approaching the corner at the same time and he was standing right next to me, which was odd,” said Audel. “But then I turned to go right and he continued this way, I thought, and all of a sudden I made it about a half a block down and he was right next to me, and he just says, ‘do you want to get beat up today?’”
Audel said the man suddenly pummeled him and knocked him to the ground. Audel said he was able to hit the man with his cane and ran across Waugh before being tackled by the man.
This male is WANTED for the assault of a 77-year-old man.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) May 9, 2024
The suspect walked up behind the victim & punched him, knocking him to the ground, in the 1900 block of West Gray St. on April 13. The suspect fled the scene.
TIPS: HPD Major Assaults at 713-308-8800. pic.twitter.com/sfmbHVza13
“I’ll be honest, I was praying and I was thinking, ‘you do not get to take me away from the people I love and the people who love me, that’s not how this is going to end,’” said Audel.
Several passers-by, including Angela Markides, rushed to Audel’s side.
“I’m able to pull the vehicle over and I get out and I said, ‘are you okay?’ And he says, ‘no, I’ve been assaulted,’” said Markides.
Markides said she was visiting her daughter and saw Audel walking his dog moments before the attack. She said she saw the attacker running away but did not get a good look at his face. Audel credits Markides and several others coming to his aid with stopping the attack.
Audel suffered a concussion and several bruises and cuts, but was able to help police create a sketch of his attacker. Audel said he has no idea why he was targeted. However, Audel said he learned a 77-year old man was attacked a week later on W. Gray. In that instance, police were able to get a photo of the attacker.
Audeal saw that photo and said he is certain it is the same man who attacked him.
“I’m going to find him because I deserve to have my peaceful walk. He does not deserve to terrorize me,” said Audel.
If you know anything about these attacks please call HPD’s Major Assaults division at (713) 308-8800 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS.
