DANIA BEACH, Fla. – A 71-year-old woman from Dania Beach is traumatized and fearful of leaving her home after deputies from the Broward Sheriff’s Office said that she was brutally attacked by a man last week when she returned his dog, which had run into her yard.
Neighbors made frantic 911 calls as they heard her screams, later discovering that their elderly neighbor was being assaulted.
Home surveillance video captured the terrifying moment when the woman, who deputies said had found the man’s dog in her yard, was chased down and was allegedly attacked by 26-year-old Manuel Collazo.
Authorities said Collazo was seen tackling the woman on Southwest Ninth Street, near West Dixie Highway in Dania Beach, according to investigators.
According to the arrest report, when the woman attempted to return the dog, Collazo became violent by pushing, punching and biting her. Deputies said he also attempted to hit the victim with a rock and held her face in a puddle of water, preventing her from breathing.
Cellphone video showed Collazo appearing to pin the woman to the ground and pulling her hair before neighbors were seen trying to get him off of the victim.
Before deputies from the Broward Sheriff’s Office could arrive, Collazo reportedly barricaded himself inside a trailer behind his home, according to investigators.
Deputies said the victim sustained severe injuries, including bite marks on her arms and hands, facial wounds and bruises and scrapes on her legs. She believes that without her neighbors’ intervention, Collazo would have killed her.
Collazo remains at the Broward Main Jail as of Tuesday, where he faces aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older. He has yet to post his $5,000 bond.
Authorities said when Collazo is released, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor.