A man on parole for armed robbery is accused of playing on the sympathy of an elderly woman to steal her Cadillac.
Court documents reveal that on Saturday, 29-year-old Richard Fransisco Lopez stole a woman's car in a shopping center parking lot near Alma School and Queen Creek roads.
Police say that Lopez told the victim he was waiting for a friend to take him to the hospital for some burns that he had on his hands and wrists. He showed her the burn marks and asked her to take him to the hospital, but she refused.
The court documents indicate that when the victim opened her car door, Lopez rushed in and pushed her into the passenger seat.
The victim managed to scream and honk the horn several times alerting bystanders, but Lopez struck her in the face possibly with a pair of pliers and pulled the woman out of car and got in before the bystanders arrived.
Lopez fled in the car, nearly hitting a bystander in the parking lot.
Gilbert police located the car speeding and driving erratically, prompting a pursuit.
Lopez lost control of the car, rolled it and was ejected near Chandler Heights and Power Road. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Lopez is facing charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery and car theft.
