Fredericksburg police are investigating two late-night incidents in which men were attacked or robbed by armed assailants.
The latest one occurred early Thursday in the parking lot behind Brock's at 503 Sophia St.
City police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said a 27-year-old man was standing outside his SUV at 2:40 a.m. when he was attacked from behind.
Bledsoe said the assailant grabbed the victim by the back of his head and pushed him against the door and the side window of the SUV.
During the attack, the suspect was screaming for the victim to give up his wallet.
The victim, a Stafford County resident, eventually was able to turn around and face his attacker, and the struggle continued. The victim was cut on his left forearm by a knife the suspect was holding.
The assailant ran from the scene toward the river and the victim called 911. Police arrived and recovered the knife and found the victim's wallet on the ground with its contents strewn about.
A Virginia State Police bloodhound was brought to the scene and tracked a scent in the direction that the victim had pointed out, but the suspect was not found.
He was described as a white male, 35 to 45 years old, 6 feet tall and weighing more than 200 pounds. He had shoulder-length grayish hair and was wearing light blue jeans, a black T-shirt and a black ball cap.
The victim was checked at the scene by rescue workers but declined transport to the hospital, Bledsoe said.
A second incident late Tuesday night was reported to city police Wednesday morning.
A 26-year-old Stafford man told police he was sitting in his car about 11 p.m. eating food he'd just purchased from Hardee's when he was approached by two men in the parking lot of Mill Park Terrace at 2216 Caroline St.
Both suspects pointed guns at the victim and demanded money.
The victim handed over less than $30 in cash to the suspect standing at the driver's side window, and both suspects then ran into some nearby woods.
The victim was not injured, though one of the suspects threatened to shoot him.
When the victim went to work the next morning, he told his supervisor about the incident and was encouraged to notify police. Police were called about 10 a.m. Wednesday, Bledsoe said.
The suspects were described as white males wearing black hoodies with masks covering most of their faces.
Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call police at 540/373-3122.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com