A 69-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday 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. 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 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.