Woman fights off home-invasion attacker Woman fights off home-invasion attacker (November 19, 2003)

A Palo Alto woman Monday morning fought off a potential assailant who forced his way into her home near Everett and Middlefield Road, according to police.

About 9:15 a.m., the unidentified woman heard a knock on her door. She answered it and an unknown man "pushed his way into her residence," police said.

The man then pinned the woman on the floor, but she was able to fight him off by hitting him in the head repeatedly, according to police.

Fleeing the victim's house, the man reportedly entered a second residence, where witnesses were able to direct police. Officers eventually found Wade Welch, 48, hiding in the bathroom of an unlocked home on Middlefield Road.

After being treated at Stanford Medical Center for minor injuries to his head, Welch was booked into San Jose Main Jail.

-- Bay City News Service