A 69-year-old man pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to 13 years in prison for running over a woman taking a nightly stroll in Irvine and then attacking a police officer who tried to arrest him.
Thomas Robert Tucker of Orange was driving a Ford Escape just before 9 p.m. on Aug. 24, 2021, when he turned the wheel toward a woman out for a walk at Spyrock and Masterson, Irvine Police Department Sgt. Karie Davies has said.
Tucker revved the engine before driving toward the woman, who tried to run away but was struck on a driveway, where she sustained cuts and scrapes, Davies said.
Tucker did not know the woman, Davies said.
Tucker “started yelling” and drove off but when he was stopped by a patrol officer, Tucker backed into the squad car intentionally, Davies said.
Tucker pleaded guilty to attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and assault with a weapon on a peace officer, all felonies, with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury on the pedestrian.
As part of the plea deal, a sentencing enhancement for attempted premeditated murder, that would have carried a life sentence, was dismissed.
