Police say Ohio deer saves woman from assault

OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a woman under assault got some crucial help from a darting deer.

Police in this western Ohio college town say a man was choking her with her purse straps and punching her in the forehead when a deer jumped up and raced past, scaring the man away.

Sgt. Jon Varley said the incident happened early Sunday after the woman left a party. He tells The Cincinnati Enquirer he can’t recall anything similar in his 17-year career.

He says the woman suffered red marks and bruises but didn’t require medical treatment. None of her property was taken when the man ran away.