By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Traffic incident ends with robbery, assault
Ryan Attaway
Ryan Attaway

A honked horn appears to have sparked the ire of a Turlock motorist to attack and rob another driver, according to the Turlock Police Department.

The suspect and his passenger, who allegedly participated in the attack, were both apprehended less than an hour after the assault.

The incident began at 7:20 p.m. Thursday in the area of W. Main Street and N. Walnut Road. A couple was driving out of a gas station when their vehicle almost collided with a Chevy Suburban. The male driver honked the horn at the driver of the Chevy and then continued on his way.

The driver of the Chevy, later identified as Ryan Attaway, 36, of Turlock, followed the couple and pulled into a parking lot after them, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Parmley.

Norma Padilla
Norma Padilla

There was a verbal exchange between the two men outside their vehicles and then Attaway started attacking the other man, Parmley said.

The female passenger got out and tried to stop the fight but was struck on the head with a glass bottle that was reportedly wielded by Norma Padilla, 36, of Merced.

Attaway then allegedly yanked a chain off the man's neck and he and Padilla fled the scene.

At 8:09 p.m. the Chevy was found in the 2100 block of Fulkerth Road. Both Attaway and Padilla were detained after an in-field identification was made identifying them as the suspects.

Both were booked into Stanislaus County Jail. Attaway was charged with robbery and Padilla was charged with assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm.

The woman sustained a non-life-threatening injury from being hit with the bottle.