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Public Safety

South Bay Driver Allegedly Chases Teen Bicyclists Onto Golf Course, Hits One With Car

The city of Chula Vista's logo at City Hall in this undated photo.
Alison St John / KPBS
The city of Chula Vista's logo at City Hall in this undated photo.

A 41-year-old man was jailed Tuesday on suspicion of chasing two teenage bicyclists onto a Chula Vista golf course, striking one of the boys with his car and then punching the teen several times after the two boys apparently threw food at his car.

It happened around 5:45 p.m. Monday at the East Lake Country Club, south of Otay Lakes Road and east of Eastlake Parkway, according to Chula Vista police.

The two boys, 14 and 15 years old, threw food at the suspect's Mercedes-Benz sedan on Fenton Street near Lane Avenue, then the driver chased after the teens, who rode away on bicycles, Lt. Gino Grippo said.

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The teens fled south on Lane Avenue before eventually riding onto grass at the golf course, but the driver followed them, struck the 14-year-old boy with his car and punched the victim several times, Grippo said.

The driver also stole the teen's backpack and cell phone, the lieutenant said.

Paramedics responded and treated the 14-year-old boy at the scene, Grippo said, adding that the boy was not seriously injured.

Officers arrested the driver, later identified as 41-year-old Garrett Perry, and recovered the teen's backpack and cellphone, he said.

Perry was booked into San Diego Central Jail around 9:35 p.m. Monday on suspicion of one count each of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon likely to produce great bodily injury and child cruelty causing injury, according to jail records. He was being held in lieu of $230,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

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