Whittier police seek man suspected of attacking woman with chainsaw

Whittier police are looking for a man who they said attacked a woman with a running chainsaw Wednesday afternoon, July 11, causing her serious injuries.

Police are calling the attack a domestic violence crime. Officer John Scroggins said police hadn’t determined the relationship between the suspect, Alejandro Alvarez, 32, and the victim.

The victim was in surgery, Scroggins said at 6:45 p.m.

Officers responded to the 7700 block of Milton Avenue in Whittier after receiving a report of an attempted murder and found the injured woman.

Alvarez, of Whittier, is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-3 and 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown Hurley T-shirt and dark jeans. He is believed to be driving a stolen, blue, 2004 four-door Mercury Mountaineer SUV, California license plate 8ABD233.

Although the chainsaw was recovered, Alvarez is considered armed and dangerous. Police said anyone who knows of his whereabouts should not approach him. Instead, call 911. And police asked that anyone with other information on the case call detectives at 562 567-9299.