Police: Teens with tree branches attack jogger in St. Louis park

ST. LOUIS – Police say that five teenagers have been charged as juveniles with felony assault after they say the teens attacked a runner on a park trail in St. Louis with tree branches.

Authorities said Monday that five boys, ranging in age from 13 to 16, were arrested and turned over to juvenile authorities.

Police say a 45-year-old man was running on the trail along the western edge of Forest Park Sunday night, when he saw the group of teens blocking the trail.

According to authorities, they hit him with branches as he tried to pass them. The man suffered cuts to his face and bruises on his body and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Police have not given a motive in the incident, but Capt. Dan Howard said investigators believe this is an isolated incident.

Forest Park is in the western part of the city and was named Best City Park in the U.S. in a recent USA Today readers’ poll.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 7:22 AM with the headline "Police: Teens with tree branches attack jogger in St. Louis park."