Indio man charged with using car as weapon

Criminal charges were filed Monday against an Indio man who allegedly rammed his car repeatedly into another vehicle last week, then tried to run down the driver as he tried to escape on foot.

Fernando Lara, 53, was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and misdemeanor vandalism.

It all started last Thursday around 3:30 p.m. at Chimayo Road and Ramon Road when Lara was intentionally colliding his vehicle into another vehicle at the intersection, according to the sheriff’s department.

As the victim tried to get out of his vehicle, Lara allegedly tried to hit the man with his vehicle. Deputies said Lara then ran into the desert.

Deputies were able to find Lara and after a brief physical altercation they took him into custody. Lara was treated at the hospital before being booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.