A drunk driver hit a 2-year-old girl in Christmas Hill Park and
then continued driving, almost running over the toddler, police
said. However, a witness jumped on the hood and stopped the driver
from running over the child, police said.
Drunk driver hits toddler, almost runs over until residents intervene
A drunk driver hit a 2-year-old girl in Christmas Hill Park and then continued driving, almost running over the toddler, police said. However, a witness jumped on the hood and stopped the driver from running over the child, police said.
The toddler sustained minor injuries after stepping in front of the slow-moving car’s front right bumper, which knocked her down and made her cry, police said. The child’s parents drove her to a San Jose hospital, where she was treated and released the same day, police said.
The harrowing ordeal not only rallied the unidentified resident who lunged atop the car, but also another unidentified resident who ran up to the older blue Honda Civic, reached inside the driver’s window and removed the keys from the ignition. Someone on the scene immediately called 911, and police arrested Manuel Jimenez, 44, about 3:30 p.m. Saturday near the picnic area and amphitheater stage on the Park Side of Christmas Hill Park. Jimenez faces charges of felony DUI resulting in injury and driving without a license.
“The child probably would have received much more serious injuries had those people not reacted,” Sgt. John Sheedy said.
Witnesses and police reported an odor of alcohol coming from Jimenez. The unlicensed suspect, who lives along the 1200 block of Swaner Drive in northwest Gilroy, failed a field sobriety test, police said.
Baseball game turns violent
Six unknown males watching a pick-up baseball game at Gilroy High School Sunday evening got upset with an umpire’s call and then assaulted a fan rooting for the opposing team, police said.
About 6 p.m., officers discovered the 23-year-old victim, whose name police did not release, bleeding from the face outside the school at 750 W. 10th St. He told officers six suspects began to yell at him because he was cheering for the team the umpire ruled in favor of. The suspects then attacked the victim without using any weapons and ran away before police arrived, according to the victim’s statement. There was nothing to indicate the fight was gang-related, Sgt. John Sheedy said.
A Gilroy High School official said Wednesday there were no scheduled games Sunday evening, but she said residents routinely use the field without permission.
Thieves nab laptops from Sony store
An unknown number of suspects pried open the front door of the Sony store in the Gilroy Premium Outlets and stole 14 computers worth about $12,000.
Police quickly responded to the alarm call just after midnight Friday and found the front door forced open. The business has security cameras, but it was unclear how many suspects broke into the store, Sgt. John Sheedy said. Police did identify a “possible” suspect vehicle as a green Ford Escort hatchback seen in the area earlier with several males inside.
There was no evidence to immediately suggest the theft was an inside job, Sgt. Sheedy said.
Planting pot in mom’s front yard
Looking out onto her front lawn from inside her home along Orchard Drive Saturday morning, a woman noticed her 15-year-old son planting what appeared to be marijuana. She went outside to investigate and upon closer inspection determined her son was sowing 10- to 12-inch tall marijuana plants in individual pots. The mother called police, who cited the juvenile and destroyed the plants, police said.
