Patrick M. Tobin, a 51-year-old Santa Barbara resident, was arrested Friday evening for attempted murder after he intentionally hit an unidentified victim ― with whom he’d had a “strained acquaintanceship,” police said ― with his truck and propelled him 20 feet through the front windows of a Mesa laundromat.
The victim miraculously sustained only minor to moderate injuries.
According to police, Tobin originally fled the scene and pulled into an adjacent restaurant’s parking lot. He was confronted by witnesses and tried to run them over but struck a large concrete pillar instead. City fire personnel, whose station is located just up the street, were the first to respond to the 9-1-1 call and helped the witnesses in detaining Tobin until police arrived.