MIDDLEBURY — A Middlebury College student is in the hospital this morning after being attacked by a knife-wielding man on a Middlebury street Wednesday night.

Police report that Jerry L. Hoffman, 31, of Middlebury randomly attacked a man and a woman walking by his College Street home at around a quarter to 8 p.m. on March 20. Hoffman reportedly stabbed the man repeatedly, apparently for no clear reason.

The man and woman, who police have not identified, managed to get to a nearby home, where they called 911.

The woman, who made the 911 call, was uninjured, but the man was rushed by Middlebury Regional EMS to Porter Hospital, then transferred to UVM Medical Center.

At 7:51 p.m., Middlebury police arrived on the scene and found Hoffman, armed with two knives, outside his home on College Street. Police say that Hoffman refused their commands to drop the weapons, and instead fled; a foot pursuit ensued. Hoffman ran into Otter Creek, still armed with the knives.

Perhaps because of the cold water, Hoffman stopped in the creek and eventually complied with commands to drop the knives.

Police took Hoffman into custody and MREMS transported him to Porter Hospital to be evaluated for exposure to the cold water. Police then took him to MPD headquarters.

Middlebury Police Chief Jason Covey said in a press release that the attack appears to be random.

Police charged Hoffman with attempted murder and jailed him at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility without bail.

Middlebury police were assisted by officials from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Vermont State Police, Vergennes Police, and the Middlebury Fire Department.