A Manhattan Beach man suspected of punching an elderly motorist driving on a downtown street faces assault with a deadly weapon charges next month, authorities said.
On Nov. 17 at 10:30 p.m., Jamie Stafford, 39, was allegedly walking with his girlfriend, a Santa Monica woman, in the 900 block of Manhattan Avenue when the pair crossed eastbound over the street.
The woman, 30, suddenly crossed back over the street westbound and was struck by a car headed southbound on Manhattan Avenue, according to police.
Authorities said Stafford then walked over to the driver’s side of the car and assaulted the driver, a 78-year-old man from out of town.
“The boyfriend ran over to the driver, opened the door, began punching the man in the face repeatedly and tried to pull him out of the car,” said Manhattan Beach Police Detective Michael Rosenberger.
The driver’s seatbelt prevented him from being dragged out of the car; however he suffered injuries to his face, police said.
Police responded and arrested Stafford on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon due to the severity of the victim’s injuries.
Both the driver and the woman were taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance. The driver suffered a fracture and bruising to his face. The woman was treated for bruising and redness from the car accident.
Rosenberger said witnesses reported that the motorist was driving at or below the 25 mile per hour speed limit.
“The traffic collision report found [the woman] at fault for not yielding to a vehicle that has the right-of-way,” Rosenberger said.
Stafford awaits a Jan. 20 hearing at the Torrance Superior Courthouse.
Strong-armed Purse Snatching
An unidentified man allegedly threw a woman to the ground before taking off with her purse in a tree section neighborhood last month, according to a Neighborhood Watch report.
On Nov. 27 at 2:15 a.m., the woman was walking eastbound on the 2400 block of Ardmore Avenue while talking on her cell phone, when the suspect approached her from behind, threw her to the ground and stole her purse, the report said.
The suspect then ran around a corner before the victim saw a black sedan drive out from Laurel Avenue and westbound onto Ardmore. A second suspect was seen driving the car.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the MBPD at (310) 802-5100. ER
