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Man Attacked, Hit in the Face While Walking Dog

Someone in a large truck yelled at the man before hitting him in the face and knocking him to the ground, police say

A man walking his dog near an Orange County park ended up being hit in the face and knocked to the ground by an attacker now being sought by police, officials said Friday.

Before the confrontation, the 76-year-old man was walking his dog on May 2 around 8 p.m. in the Le Bard Park area, near Craimer Lane and Warwick Drive, Huntington Beach police said.

As he was strolling, he saw two boys playing with airsoft guns. He asked the boys if they would stop shooting the airsoft guns so neither he nor his dog would get hit, police said.

The two boys agreed to stop, and the man thanked them and continued on his walk toward the playground area, police said.

The man suddenly heard a screeching sound behind him. He turned and saw a large white truck with a long bed parked at the corner of Cynthia Lane, police said.

The driver of the truck got out and ran toward the man, shouting and asking why he was yelling "at his kids," police said.

The 76-year-old turned around and walked away, but turned around after being approached from behind. The truck's driver then hit the man in the face, knocking him to the ground, police said.

The other man got back in the truck and drove away, but the 76-year-old didn't see where he went. The attacker was described as a white man in his 30s, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, about 160 to 200 pounds.

Police are hoping any witnesses will come forward so they can find the attacker. It was not clear whether the attacker was a parent of the boys.

Anyone with information should call the Huntington Beach Police Information Hotline at 714 375-5066.

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