Howard County police have charged a 20-year-old man in the assault of an elderly woman on a Columbia walking trail last week.
Traquan Malik Waller, of no fixed address, is charged in an arrest warrant with attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment. He is currently hospitalized on an unrelated issue and will be detained at that facility until he can be discharged and transported to booking.
Police were called on Sept. 9 to the 7000 block of Cradlerock Way in the Owen Brown area around 6:35 a.m. for a report that an 80-year-old woman had been injured. Investigators learned that the victim was on a morning walk when an unknown man came up behind her, stabbed her in the neck and fled. The woman was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma and later released.
Through investigation, police identified Waller as the suspect in the incident. Waller’s clothing matched the suspect description and police located a knife at the scene.
Detectives believe this was a random act with no motive for the attack. Waller did not say anything to the victim or take anything from her.
Upon his discharge from the hospital, Waller will be transported to the Howard County Detention Center for booking.
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