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Mountain lion attack in Nevada County now being investigated as assault

Detectives are now investigating the attack as an assault. No arrests have been made and a suspect description has not been released.

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UPDATE 1:45 p.m.

Deputies are now investigating what they once believed was a possible mountain lion attack as an assault.

According to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, a 50-year-old man was found on the side of the road with severe cuts to his throat. Deputies at the time reported the injuries as a result of a possible mountain lion attack, but the Department of Fish and Wildlife says that is not true.

Detectives are now investigating the attack as an assault. No arrests have been made and a suspect description has not been released.

Detectives are seeking a warrant for the victim's home on You Bet Road, where they believe the assault happened.

If you have any information, contact the Nevada County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit at (530) 265-1263.

Original story:

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — Danielle Atwood and her boyfriend were driving on You Bet Road when they saw a man reaching out of the bushes with a bloody hand.

Atwood said she pulled over immediately and they both got out to see what was wrong. Atwood told ABC10, the man's throat was slit and he was bleeding from his arms and throat.

Atwood and her boyfriend flagged down more people who were driving by. Another man came over and applied pressure to the injured man's neck. She said at one point, they thought the man died because he stopped moving.

The injured man kept pointing into the woods as if he was terrified of whatever hurt him and thought it would come back for him, Atwood recalled.

Atwood shared on her Facebook page, "I'm praying that you make it and I hope my boyfriend and I can meet you again someday."

Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are investigating this attack as a possible mountain lion attack, but they cannot confirm that it was.

Patrick Foy, a captain with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the man was severely injured and their priority in the investigation is his survival as well as figuring out what attacked him.

Foy emphasized mountain lion attacks are incredibly rare. They are conducting a thorough investigation before ruling whether or not a mountain lion attacked this man.

Officials said the man was taken to a local hospital and has been airlifted to another hospital to be treated for his severe injuries.

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office is also conducting an investigation alongside the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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