SARASOTA, Fla. -- Deputies have arrested a man they say attacked his grandmother in their van and pulled the steering wheel to cause her to crash into a ditch.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a reported accident on Vinson Avenue in the Sarasota Springs area Thursday. The 74-year-old victim explained that her grandson asked her to go to the bank to get $20 so he could buy Subutex. She refused and he got angry, grabbed the steering wheel and caused them to crash into a ditch.
He ran off but returned while deputies were on scene. The woman was treated for her injuries and transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
A witness approached deputies and said she saw the man punching the victim earlier, but when she approached the van and asked the victim if she was ok, the grandson forced her to drive away.
The suspect, 28-year-old Stephen Shepard, has been charged with Domestic Battery on a Person over 65.
He has more than 14 previous arrests for crimes including Aggravated Battery, Larceny and drug charges.
