Man Suspected In Road Rage-Screwdriver Stabbing Attempt On Elderly Driver Arrested

Police have charged a man suspected of stabbing a 70-year-old with a screwdriver following a car crash in Santa Rosa that involved neither of the men.

The Santa Rosa Police Department responded about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday to a call regarding an assault stemming from a collision earlier the same evening.

Police arrived in the 2600 block of Bellevue Ranch Road where the victim, a 70-year-old Santa Rosa man, waiting for police near a damaged vehicle in front of his residence.

The man had significant facial injuries around his left eye and nose, as well as pain in his lower back and left leg.

The man told officers that just before 5:30 p.m., the victim saw a white Lexus crash into a parked vehicle that belonged to a family member. The driver of the Lexus continued on Bellevue Ranch Road. The victim followed the Lexus until the driver pulled over on Ryder Drive.

The victim spoke with the 26-year-old female driver of the car and began to exchange insurance and vehicle information. As they spoke, the woman called Thomas Barajas, 20, of Santa Rosa.

Barajas and the victim spoke briefly on the phone before the victim returned the phone to the woman and continued the exchange of insurance and vehicle information.

Barajas arrived at the scene in a separate vehicle and confronted the victim. Police said Barajas forcibly took the victim’s cellphone from his hands and threw it into a nearby field to prevent the victim from calling for emergency assistance.

Barajas then produced a screwdriver and attempted to stab the victim in the abdomen, according to police. The victim was able to grab hold of the screwdriver as he fell to the ground, preventing him from being stabbed. The victim was able to wrestle the screwdriver away from Barajas. Barajas then hit and kicked the victim numerous times while he was on the ground, police reported.

After the attack, Barajas and the woman returned to their vehicles and left. The victim drove himself home and called the police to report the attack. An officer then called an ambulance and the victim was transported to an area hospital to treat his injuries. He was released from hospital.

On Wednesday, police identified Barajas and found his empty vehicle in the area of Montecito Boulevard and Benecia Street. Detectives arrested him about 3 p.m. Wednesday when he returned to his car.

Barajas was taken to Sonoma County Jail and charged with robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and elder abuse.

Police said the woman's identity has not been released because she was not involved in the attack.