Woman claims brother cuffed, beat her

Deputies were searching Thursday for a 41-year-old man who allegedly handcuffed his sister to a stove pipe at her North San Juan home and beat her, inflicting serious injuries.

Dion Eric Din is considered armed and dangerous. His sister's shotgun and 9 mm handgun are missing from her house on the 13000 block of Dolomite Court, Nevada County Sheriff Keith Royal said.

The woman was treated for extensive injuries to her face, wrist and upper body late Wednesday night at the emergency room at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, he said.

She told investigators her brother beat her several times, brandished a knife and kept her handcuffed to a pipe on her wood stove for two hours Wednesday evening, according to the sheriff.

The woman allegedly tried to run from her brother twice. At one point she grabbed a butcher knife from her kitchen but put it down after Din allegedly pulled out a switchblade, he said.

Each time she got away, Din allegedly dragged her back into her living room by her hair, Royal said, where he beat her repeatedly with closed fists, then handcuffed her by her left wrist.

"She begged and pleaded for him to loosen the handcuffs, which he did later," Royal said.

Din apologized, the woman told police, then eventually left her alone.

Her friend drove her to the hospital.

Din, whom Royal said has a history of substance abuse, had been staying with his sister temporarily since May and was in a period of transition.

"The reason for the assault is unclear," Royal said. "It may involve substance abuse. We don't know."

The woman's husband was in Colorado at the time of the alleged attack, she told investigators.

Police have probable cause to arrest Din on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, carjacking and felony battery, Royal said.

Din could be driving one of two cars - his sister's missing black Infiniti G35X or a his white 1994 Ford Ranger.

He is described as 5-feet-9-inches tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Din may be in or near the Stockton area, according to sheriff's logs.

Anyone who spots Din is asked to call the sheriff's dispatch at 265-7880.

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To contact Staff Writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236.