McHenry County Conservation District police have arrested a 48-year-old Woodstock man and charged him with attempted murder after they said he used a hammer to attack two women earlier this week on a Crystal Lake bike trail.

MCCD police and members from the McHenry County Sheriff’s SWAT Team arrested Angel Reinaldo-Cardoza about 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to a news release. The man is accused of striking two women with a hammer while he was riding east on his bicycle, according to the release.

Reinaldo-Cardoza is charged with attempted murder, armed violence and aggravated battery. More charges may be forthcoming, according to the release.

Two women were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening Tuesday evening after being attacked with a hammer on the Ridgefield Trace bike trail, police have said.

The attack occurred about 5:15 p.m. on a bike trail near the intersection of Oak Street and Crystal Ridge Drive north of Route 176.

The trail runs for about
7.5 miles from Lake Avenue in Woodstock to Walkup Avenue in Crystal Lake.

Police have said Reinaldo-Cardoza first attacked a woman who was walking on the trail. A second woman who was riding her bike on the path also was injured and struck by the hammer when she tried to help the other victim, police said.

Both women have since been released from the hospital.

Police identified Reinaldo-Cardoza using witness descriptions, items left at the scene and surveillance videos from nearby businesses.

“This was an unnerving and unfortunate event to have had occurred in an otherwise serene and peaceful area,” McHenry County Conservation District Police Chief Laura King said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to the two women and their families.”