Owner of dealership injured in hit-run during car theft

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police officers climbed rooftops in a Southeast Fresno neighborhood searching for the suspect who they say stole a car from a nearby dealership and then ran over the owner.

Sgt. John Chandler said, "It wasn't a test drive, it was can I hear the engine, he was distracted and this individual took off."

Police found the abandoned car in a southeast neighborhood. Investigators spent the afternoon using a canine to scour the area looking for the thief.

Authorities say Saturday's auto theft happened at the Autoland Dealership near Cedar and Belmont. They say a man walked into the lot and asked to test out the engine of a white Lexus. The suspect waited until the dealership's owner wasn't paying attention before he jumped into the car.

Sgt. John Chandler said, "The owner of the business went out to confront him and attempted to stop him from leaving with the vehicle, he was then ran over by the individual driving the stolen car."

The suspect then headed east on Belmont in the stolen car and abandoned the Lexus a short while later.

Fresno Police say the victim was taken to Community Regional Medical Center.

If you have any information that could help detectives, call the Fresno Police Department.

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