Arrest in Austin Ridge Assault

UPDATE: Logan Keith Dunning, who was arrested charges possibly as serious as attempted murder for the assault on Austin Ridge, appeared in court Thursday afternoon to face charges. Dunning was in a wheelchair for undisclosed reasons. Charges to be brought were discharged by the prosecutor but may be filed when Dunning next appears in court, on July 5, for his standing charges of arson and violation of probation. More details as they become available.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Sonoma Sheriff's Office has arrested a suspect in the April 25 stabbing assault of , 28, a disabled resident found beaten and bloody from a previously unknown assailant, the Sonoma County Sheriff is reporting.

Logan Dunning, 22, of Boyes Hot Springs, was arrested Tuesday in the Sonoma County jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on charges of mayhem, attempted murder and committing a crime against a disabled person this afternoon, Thursday at 1:30 pm, in Sonoma County Superior Court.

A Santa Rosa policeman's hunch led Sonoma Sheriffs to search Dunning's residence at Lucas Ave. and Boyes on May 1, according to the Press Democrat.

Dunning is suspected of beating 28-year-old Austin Ridge, who was found bleeding from stab wounds and a head injury in the 18000 block of Lucas Avenue on April 25, Sonoma County sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary said.

"Once Dunning was identified as a suspect," said the SCS statement, "detectives conducted a probation search on his residence where they located several key pieces of evidence including the knife used in the stabbing and other trace evidence that led to a positive match utilizing DNA.  Dunning's residence is in close proximity to where the assault occurred."

He is the suspect in at least six automobile arsons in west Santa Rosa between 11 p.m. and midnight on April 1. Property, including electronics, currency and sunglasses, was taken from some of the vehicles before they were set on fire, Santa Rosa police Lt. Mike Lazzarini said.

Several residences in the Valley West Drive, West Third Street and Fulton Road area of Santa Rosa captured images of the arson suspect trying to open doors of vehicles parked in driveways, Lazzarini said.

Lt. Dennis O'Leary said Santa Rosa police notified the sheriff's office their automobile arson suspect lived in the area of Ridge's assault. There also were some automobile arsons in the Maxwell Farms Regional Park in Boyes Hot Springs, O'Leary said.

Santa Rosa police arrested Dunning for the arsons on May 1, a week after Ridge was assaulted, at the house he lived in with his grandmother in the 18000 block of Lucas Avenue. The knife believed to be used by Ridge's assailant was found in Dunning's Lucas Avenue residence, and traces of blood containing DNA evidence also linked Dunning to the assault, O'Leary said. Dunning is being held under $1 million bail.

A number of following the brutal attack helped pay the Ridge family's medical bills. Ridge is expected to be in the July 4 parade with a new customized tricycle, according to the PD.

Dunning, who is still in custody, was re-booked for Attempted Murder, Mayhem, and Crimes Against Persons with Disabilities.  Dunning's bail is currently set at $1,000,000.