A Mesa church worker narrowly escaped an assault by a man with a metal bat.
Mesa police report that around 11 p.m. on March 28 an alarm company alerted the facilities manager at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church near 8th Street and Stapley Drive. The church worker went to the church and found 39-year-old Alfredo Contreras on church property near the sanctuary.
The worker asked Contreras to leave, but instead, Contreras reportedly became verbally abusive. The worker left the area, trying to return to his car, when Contreras allegedly, "charged at the victim with a bat, saying 'Oh, it's on!'" The victim managed to get inside his car as Contreras used the metal bat to smash the driver's side window and bend the steel window frame.
The victim was able to drive away and alert police, who found Contreras still on church property.
Contreras reportedly admitted to hitting the victim’s vehicle, claiming the worker tried to run him over.
Contreras has been charged with aggravated assault.
