Hercules Assault, Burglary Suspect Sought

HERCULES, CA -- In a wild combination of offenses, an attempted auto burglary, an assault and a hit-and-run occurred in a matter of minutes Friday morning in a Hercules shopping-center parking lot, police said. At about 8:30 a.m., a man confronted a burglar in the process of breaking into the man's truck, parked in the 800 block of Willow Avenue.

The suspect, described as a Hispanic man wearing a gray sweatshirt, ran to a grayish-blue Mercedes that was parked behind the victim's truck and got in the driver's seat. The victim ran after the suspect in an effort to retrieve his stolen property, climbed into the Mercedes through the driver's door window and struggled with the suspect.

With the victim still partially hanging out the window, the suspect accelerated and struck another vehicle, a white Mercedes SUV, head-on, causing moderate damage.

The suspect then backed up, put the car in drive and sped toward the south exit of the shopping center with the victim still partly in the vehicle. The victim fell to the ground and the suspect's car ran over the man's ankle.

The injured man was treated for his injuries at the scene.

Officers are searching for the suspect and his Mercedes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hercules Police Department at (510) 724-1111.

--Bay City News/Shutterstock image