EAGLE, Idaho — Eagle Police have arrested the 72-year-old man who attacked an elderly couple on the Greenbelt earlier this week.
Dwight E. Cook is charged with felony aggravated assault and is in custody at the Ada County Jail.
The couple, an 83-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, were walking along the Greenbelt Tuesday when a dog ran toward them. The pair asked Cook to put his dog on a leash, but he refused.
A dispute broke out and Cook punched the 83-year-old in the shoulder and threw him down an embankment into a barbed-wire fence. Cook then punched the woman in the stomach and threw her in the embankment, where she landed on her husband.
The woman said Cook tried to take their cell phones when they feel out of their pockets and landed on the ground. She said he stopped after she yelled at him. It was at that point the woman was able to grab her phone and take photos of him.
As Cook walked away, the couple called 911 and the Ada County Paramedics. Both were covered in dirt and debris from the fall and had visible injuries. Their injuries were not initially thought to be life-threatening, but upon arriving at the hospital, the man's injuries were found to be more serious and he was admitted to surgery.
Eagle Police located Cook later on Tuesday. He originally told Police that the couple attacked him, though he had no visible injuries or debris from the ground. He said the couple threw rocks at him and tackled him, which caused the man and woman to fall into the embankment.
Investigators ultimately determined there was enough evidence to arrest and charge Cook with felony aggravated assault. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The elderly couple's condition is unknown at this time.
Watch more crime news:
See the latest Treasure Valley crime news in our YouTube playlist:
