Sleeping truck driver attacked by shirtless man in Petaluma

An out-of-town truck driver was attacked while sleeping in the cab of his semitrailer by a man who later was found in the Petaluma River naked and mildly hypothermic, police said.

The driver, 65, of Hollister, was asleep in his truck on Weller Street about 4:30 a.m. when a shirtless man started banging on his door, the Petaluma Police Department said in a statement.

When the driver opened his door, the suspect, later identified as Damion Grissom, 44, began striking him with a blunt instrument, police said. Grissom then entered the truck and started hitting the driver with his fists before destroying the inside of the cab and tossing items out, police said.

Grissom attacked the driver once more before fleeing in an unknown direction, police said.

The truck driver, who wasn’t identified, was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital, where he was treated for cuts to his arms, police said.

Grissom later was found standing in the Petaluma River, under the D Street Bridge. That was only about 200 yards from where the truck driver was attacked.

Police said Grissom had been standing in the river for about an hour and was mildly hypothermic. He was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital for evaluation.

Police said they found Grissom’s wallet and identification card in the cab of the truck. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse and booked into Sonoma County Jail.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.