How authorities will use DNA to tie bear to Altadena campground attack

ALTADENA >> They found the suspect hiding in a tree roughly half a mile away from where authorities say she cut a man’s head open as he rested in his tent near Altadena early Sunday moing.

She matched the description of the attacker: roughly 150 pounds, brownish black fur and sharp claws.

The rangers used tranquilizers to take her into custody. It’s not a closed case though, because even bears have a right to due process.

Like an episode of “CSI,” forensic scientists will collect DNA evidence from the bear’s paws, from her saliva and even her feces. The forensics team then matches the DNA with evidence they collect from the crime scene and from the victim’s wounds.

Though there’s not a trial, the outcome could mean life or death.

“If that is the correct bear, we’ll euthanize the bear, do tests for any diseases and then we’ll basically shut down our operation,” said Lt. J.C. Healy, of the Califoia Department of Fish and Wildlife. “If the DNA does not match, we’ll continue our search.”

Fish and Wildlife releases exonerated bears back into the wild.

How the attack went down

Authorities started their search for the bear after it allegedly pushed through a tent wall at the Milliard Campground above Altadena early Sunday moing and slashed a man across his forehead in the scuffle. It likely wasn’t premeditated, Healy said. She probably thought she smelled food inside, though the camper said he had none in his tent.

“It could have been on that downward stroke of ripping open the tent, she inadvertently hit the man in the head. It’s hard to say at this point.” Healy said. “They don’t attack with malice, they’re looking for food, or water.”

The camper needed about 18 sutures for the cut, which he did not realize he sustained until he felt blood dripping on his face, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena station. The injuries were minor enough for the man, who hasn’t been identified, to drive himself to Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Investigators ‘raced’ for evidence

The crime scene investigation begins almost immediately.

A Fish and Wildlife employee raced to the hospital with a “Caivore Attack Kit” to test the man’s wounds, but arrived too late, according to Healy.

He said there may be enough evidence around the camp site to still convict the captured bear.

Rangers will try to capture more bears

The attack shut down the Milliard Campground for the next 72 hours. There’s about a three day tu around for the DNA tests, so rangers will continue to search for other bear culprits in the mean time.

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It’s not unusual for multiple bears to appear in the line-up.

“We don’t want to shut it down in the event that the bear we have housed right now is the wrong bear,” Healy said.

Healy recalled a Southe Califoia bear attack three years ago that resulted in the arrest of five bears.

“We housed all five of them, pulled DNA off all of them and we actually had one that was the correct bear,” Healy said. “We released the remaining four.”