A 25-year-old accused of dragging a witness about 40 yards with his SUV while trying to get away was charged Thursday with attempted murder.
Arturo Suarez of Santa Ana was also charged with second-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and failing to stop at a hit-and-run collision with injury, all felonies. He faces sentencing enhancements for attempted premeditated murder and inflicting great bodily injury as well as two misdemeanor counts of driving without a valid license.
About a week ago, Suarez allegedly stole a purse from an employee in a business in the 2500 block of South Yale Street, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
At about 11:15 a.m. Monday, the theft victim noticed the suspect in the business and confronted him, Bertagna said.
The purse theft victim attempted to block the suspect in with her car, but he drove around it in a 1999 Ford Explorer, Bertagna said. Then another witness attempted to stop him by standing in front of the vehicle, but he struck her and dragged her about 40 yards before stopping and reversing the vehicle to dislodge her, Bertagna alleged.
The victim remained hospitalized Thursday, and will need skin grafts, Bertagna said.
Suarez also faces a prior case of possession of drugs in jail, according to court records.
Suarez pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery April 26 and was sentenced to 908 days in jail and was placed on five years of formal probation.
The robbery occurred Jan. 28 of last year.
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