Hollister
– Police arrested a local man for a hit and run early Sunday
morning when he allegedly ran a stop sign at Seventh Street and San
Benito Street, colliding with a Mercedes.
Hollister – Police arrested a local man for a hit and run early Sunday morning when he allegedly ran a stop sign at Seventh Street and San Benito Street, colliding with a Mercedes.
Samuel Urbano Perez, 18, of Hollister, was arrested by police on charges of a misdemeanor resisting arrest, misdemeanor driving without a license, misdemeanor assaulting a police officer, felony driving under the influence, felony hit and run, and a felony evading a peace officer causing serious bodily injury.
The three occupants of the Mercedes complained of pain but had no visible signs of injury, Hollister Police Capt. Bob Brooks said.
Perez had been stopped by Hollister Police at Line Street and South Street. When an officer got out of the patrol car to contact Perez, he fled, along with two passengers, running stop signs, and attempted to cross San Benito Street heading eastbound on Seventh when his brown 2005 Silverado truck hit a northbound white 2002 Mercedes, Brooks said.
Perez attempted to flee the scene of the accident on foot but was apprehended by police, Brooks said. When officers put Perez in the back of a patrol car, he allegedly assaulted one of the officers.
“He kicked (the officer) in the left wrist causing an abrasion,” Brooks said.
Two passengers in Perez’s vehicle who also fled southbound down an alley near the collision, Brooks said. The three passengers in the Mercedes were treated at a local hospital for unknown injuries, Brooks said.
Perez is being held at the San Benito County jail in lieu of $172,000 in bail. If convicted of evading a peace officer causing serious bodily injury, he could face up to seven years in prison.
“Eighteen years old and he’s going to have this one floating over his head for a long time,” Brooks said.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335, or mv*********@fr***********.com.