22-05-2025
‘Extremely dangerous' man attacking Mt. Baldy hikers, more victims sought
A 66-year-old man whom officials deemed 'extremely dangerous' is in custody after allegedly attacking hikers on Mount Baldy.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department issued a news release Thursday morning, seeking more victims who may have been assaulted, attacked, harassed or threatened by the man.
He's been identified as Patrick Flinn, a white man who stands 6 feet tall, weighs about 170 pounds and has blue eyes and gray hair.
Flinn is accused of attacking at least six hikers in the San Gabriel Mountains in 2025.
LASD in San Dimas told KTLA that Flinn's latest reported incident happened on May 16 in the Dry Lake Canyon area.
Flinn allegedly blocked the path of a hiker and her dog and began throwing branches at her. He wouldn't let her leave and, because of the terrain, officials said she didn't have another way out.
Two other hikers eventually saw she needed help and one hiker distracted Flinn while the other helped the victim get to safety.
In another incident reported on Jan. 12, Flinn allegedly followed a group of hikers while carrying a sledgehammer and threatened them.
LASD said Flinn has been living in an old abandoned house in the middle of the forest since 2012, and officials believe there may be other victims.
TikTok and YouTube users have also shared videos to warn others about Flinn, so officials know others have encountered him but have not reported those instances to authorities.
County officials are working to see what they can do to shut down the abandoned home Flinn was living in, they said. The house has running water and PVC pipes running from the river to the inside, but it does not have electricity.
Flinn also had a pulley system set up where he was able to pull his possessions up to the property.
Jail records show San Dimas deputies arrested him around 4:30 p.m. on May 16 and booked him on felony charges with bail set at $295,000.
'Suspect Flinn is extremely dangerous, violent, and known to carry large knives on his person,' LASD said in a release.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department urges any victims or anyone with information about Flinn to contact the San Dimas station at 909-450-2700.
Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling 800-222-8477.
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