Suspect sought after 14-year-old boy pushed off bike, attacked in Santa Clarita

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- A search is underway for a man who police say knocked a 14-year-old boy off his bike and hit him in an attack on a popular Santa Clarita trail.

The teen, who doesn't want to be identified, captured the suspect on camera slashing his tires and destroying his bike. In the video, you can hear the fear in his voice as he pleads for help from passing drivers.

It happened Wednesday night along the San Francisquito Trail, according to the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.

The teen says he and a friend narrowly missed hitting another rider with no lights or reflective gear on. He says the man chased after them, catching up with them, when he stopped because he had a stick in his tire.

He says the man pushed him off his bike, slammed him to the ground and punched him several times in the face.

"The man basically grabbed him, ambushed him, and jumped him from behind... threw him to the ground and then began to attack him," said Lalania Bidwell, the victim's mother.

A good Samaritan stopped their car to help as the suspect fled. Thankfully, the teen wasn't seriously hurt - but he says he'll never forget seeing the knife in the man's hand as he launched his attack.

"He was hitting me with the under part of his hand... screaming at me, spitting in my face, saying that he was going to kill me. In the moment, I thought he was stabbing me, and I feared for my life to be honest."

There's no solid description of the suspect other than he was riding an orange bike.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective K. Picard at (661) 260-4000 ext. 5625.