Sheriff’s detectives are seeking a man in a charcoal-colored SUV who drove into cones and signs in a parking lot being used as a COVID-19 vaccine site on the 22900 block of Market Street in Newhall Saturday afternoon, officials said.
The driver then allegedly struck an employee of the vaccination clinic as they replaced the knocked-down cones and signs, according to law enforcement officials.
“The suspect allegedly intentionally struck the worker with the sideview mirror, causing minor injuries,” said Sgt. Dmitry Barkon with Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, which responded shortly after 4:30 p.m. He said the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, but that the worker declined medical treatment.
Deputy Natalie Arriaga, a spokeswoman for the station, said on Monday that there were no words exchanged from the suspect toward the victim at any point during the incident. ,
“The victim drove through the area knocking down signs with his hand while driving,” said Arriaga. “The employee was picking up the signs when the suspect turned back around, proceeded through again, knocking down signs with his hand while sideswiping the victim with his side-view mirror.”
Barkon said the suspect fled the scene and the Sheriff’s Department is still searching for the man and will be investigating the incident as an assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect has been described as a man approximately 60-65 years old, last seen driving a dark charcoal SUV.
The victim sustained a minor injury and was evaluated by medical personnel, according to Arriaga.
The suspect’s motive is unknown, according to Barkon and Arriaga.
