Jose Alvarez-RamirezPRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ (CBS5) -
A Prescott Valley resident walking with a friend in a local park was injured when a motorist deliberately plowed into him in what police believe was an intended hit-and-run attack.
Jose Alvarez-Ramirez, 35, of Prescott Valley, had been allegedly targeting one of the men, who is currently dating Alvarez-Ramirez's ex-girlfriend, officers said. The man who was struck is not believed to be his intended victim, police said.
The two men were walking in Mountain Valley Park late Sunday afternoon when one of them saw the vehicle driving straight toward them. He tried to warn his friend, who was not able to escape the oncoming danger in time.
The victim suffered a head injury and was taken to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center East Campus where he is expected to be OK.
Witnesses told police the vehicle was traveling between 15 to 20 mph at the time of the accident.
According to police reports, Alvarez-Ramirez had been harassing the intended victim and allegedly threatened to kill him the day before.
On Tuesday, officers located Alvarez-Ramirez at a home in the 8100 block of Lakeshore. The vehicle believed to have been used, a Hyundai passenger car, was found parked at the residence. Police said when they interviewed Alvarez-Ramirez, he denied any involvement in the incident.
Alvarez-Ramirez was arrested and booked into the Yavapai County Jail on one count of aggravated assault and one count of failing to stop at the scene of an injury accident.
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