Victim struck by rock, chased with golf club

The day after Christmas soured like bad eggnog at two Elk Grove households where and police were required to intervene.

officials wouldn’t say exactly who Sara Elizabeth Gonigan is suspected of striking in the head with a river rock Monday afternoon at a local dog park, but the charges against the 28-year-old Elk Grove woman indicate a spouse or cohabitant was the victim of the attack.

Police say Gonigan and the victim got into a verbal argument at their residence in an undisclosed part of town around 1 p.m. Monday. The victim left the home and went to the dog park in the 9900 block of Elk Grove Florin Road, only to be confronted a short time later by Gonigan. Another argument ensued, leading to the attack with the river rock.

Police wouldn’t reveal what the verbal argument was about or how it factored into the attack.

“Information obtained during the criminal investigation is not releasable,” said police department spokesman Officer .

After leaving the scene for a few minutes, Gonigan is said to have returned with a golf club, which she allegedly swung at the victim while chasing him through the park.

Police officers, contacted by the victim, arrived at the park and arrested Gonigan.

Responding medics treated the victim’s head laceration, Trim said.

Gonigan was booked into on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon and corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. Jail records showed her still incarcerated Wednesday evening in lieu of $50,000 bail. Gonigan isn’t scheduled to appear in Sacramento Superior Court until Jan. 3, 2012.

Earlier that same day, Rickey Holden, 45, was arrested after a similar sequence of events in which an argument reportedly led to violence.

Elk Grove police records say Holden shoved a female victim during an argument shortly before 1 a.m. at home and that the victim struck her head on a bathtub when she fell backwards.

Responding officers, contacted by someone in the house, had to use a taser on a resistant Holden before being able to take him into custody, Trim said.

Holden was arrested and taken to county jail, but there is no record of his booking or arraignment in superior court.

The victim suffered a visible injury, said Trim, “but did not require medical treatment.”