Assault and attempted robbery in the arboretum this morning

At approximately 8:15 a.m. this morning, the Bellingham Police Department was dispatched to an attempted strong arm robbery and assault in the Sehome Arboretum. 

Officers arrived and spoke with a 71-year old male who stated he had been walking in the wooded area at the top of the arboretum when the suspect, described as a white male with brown hair wearing a red bandana, approached and demanded his money. When the victim refused, the suspect threw rocks at him, striking him in the head. 

Paramedics attended to the victim and officers did a search of the arboretum, but the suspect was not located.