California police had no trouble tracking down a man who reportedly ran down a pedestrian before taking off — he was found at the scene of the incident, tied to a phone pole. The bizarre incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Friday in Rancho Calaveras, about 25 miles northeast of Stockton. After responding to the scene of a reported hit-and-run, sheriff’s deputies learned the victim had gotten into an argument with 29-year-old Thomas Bechtold. Witnesses said Bechtold then got into his car and intentionally drove into the man, later identified as James Leslie.
California hit-and-run suspect found tied to phone pole https://t.co/WTQxpykCZi
— Brother Rex (@rexy03) April 8, 2020
Three hours after the incident, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Bechtold had returned to the scene of the crime, per Bechtold’s arrest report. When deputies arrived, they found the suspect beaten and tied to a telephone pole, according to deputies. No one was arrested for the assault. Bechtold, however, is facing charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious injury and felony hit-and-run. His bail has been set at $2 million.
