Bay Area man arrested after screwdriver attack on 70-year-old driver, police say

"Santa Rosa police arrested a 20-year-old man Wednesday after they say he assaulted a 70-year-old driver during what was supposed to be an exchange of insurance information following a crash. Police responded just after 7 p.m. Tuesday to Bellevue Ranch Road near Stony Point Road after a report of an assault. When an officer arrived, the 70-year-old Santa Rosa resident was waiting next to a damaged vehicle."

"The man told police the incident began around 5:30 p.m., when he saw a white Lexus sedan crash into a parked vehicle belonging to a family member. The Lexus driver did not stop, so he followed the car until it pulled over on Ryder Drive. Police said the Lexus driver, a 26-year-old woman, began exchanging information with the man. During that conversation, she called a friend - identified by police as Thomas Barajas."

"When Barajas arrived, he confronted the victim, grabbed the man's phone and threw it into a nearby field, police said. Investigators said Barajas then pulled out a screwdriver and tried to stab the man. The victim struggled with him and fell to the ground while holding onto the screwdriver to avoid being stabbed. Police said Barajas kicked and punched him before fleeing in a separate car. The woman also left the scene."

Officers responded just after 7 p.m. Tuesday after a report of an assault. A 70-year-old Santa Rosa resident waited by a damaged vehicle with swelling and cuts around his left eye and nose and reported back and leg pain. He followed a white Lexus that struck a parked family vehicle until it stopped on Ryder Drive, where the 26-year-old driver began exchanging information and called Thomas Barajas. Barajas arrived, grabbed the man's phone, threw it into a nearby field, and produced a screwdriver. The victim struggled, fell while holding the screwdriver to avoid being stabbed, and was kicked and punched before the assailant fled. The victim drove home, received hospital treatment, and was released. Using vehicle and insurance information collected at the scene, officers identified the woman and Barajas and arrested Barajas Wednesday; he was booked on suspicion of felony robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.

Read at The Mercury News