Man injured by hatchet-wielding suspect in Mission District

SAN FRANCISCO -- A man was struck in the side of the head with a hatchet on Saturday night in San Francisco's Mission District, police said.

The 45-year-old victim was talking to a friend near the intersection of Caledonia and 16th streets, less than a block from the 16th Street BART station, at about 11:10 p.m. Saturday when he was suddenly attacked, according to police.

Police said the suspect, believed to be a man between 35 and 40 years of age, struck the victim with a hatchet on the side of his head near his ear.

The victim suffered a cut to his ear and pain to his head. He suffered injuries not considered life-threatening and refused to be transported to the hospital for treatment.

The suspect fled the scene on foot following the apparently unprovoked attack and remained at large as of today, according to police.