He was ‘tethered’ to a pole after hitting man with a vehicle, Calaveras deputies say
Calaveras County sheriff’s officials say they arrested a man who was found battered and tied to a telephone pole three hours after he reportedly hit another man with a vehicle.
About 4:30 p.m. Friday, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol authorities were called to the intersection of Nall Street and Westhill Road in Valley Springs. Sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers were responding to a reported incident vehicle crash involving a pedestrian.
Deputies arrived at the scene and were told that Thomas Bechtold, 29, and James Leslie, 47, had been arguing with each other. At some point, Bechtold got into his vehicle and struck Leslie with it, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
The impact knocked Leslie unconscious and Bechtold left the area, officials said. The deputies conducted an investigation at the scene and were looking for Bechtold.
At around 7:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a report that Bechtold had been dropped off near the same intersection where Leslie was struck by the vehicle.
The deputies arrived and found Bechtold. He was battered with his hands tied behind his back and “tethered” to a telephone pole, sheriff’s officials said.
Bechtold was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious injury and felony hit-and-run, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Bechtold was booked at the Calaveras County Jail, where he was being held Tuesday. His bail amount was set at just under $2.2 million.
Investigators asked anyone with information about this case to call the Sheriff’s Office at 209-754-6500 or the sheriff’s tip line at 209-754-6030.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 9:00 PM.
