A 70-year-old man may lose his eye after being assaulted while confronting another man who was speeding through a neighborhood.
Phoenix Police report that on Aug. 30, a man, later identified as 23-year-old Nickolas Joseph Hernandez was allegedly speeding through a neighborhood near 91st Avenue and McDowell Road.
A 70-year-old man, concerned for the children in the area, yelled at Hernandez to slow down. Hernandez reportedly turned his truck around and drove to the victim’s home and confronted him outside.
Police say Hernandez pushed the victim to the ground while cursing at him. He then allegedly punched and kicked the man in the face several times.
A witness stepped in and stopped the assault, but when the witness left, Hernandez returned and continued his assault on the man who was curled up in a fetal position until the witness returned and stopped him again.
Police say the victim’s left eye was completely swollen shut. Hospital workers told police that the victim's nose and eye socket are broken, and he may lose his left eye.
Neighbors tell police that they had seen Hernandez speeding in the neighborhood before and led police to his home.
Hernandez was arrested the next day at the Towers Jail where he returns after his work furlough. Hernandez is on probation for armed robbery.
Hernandez reportedly told police the victim struck him first.
He has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault.
To see how the victim is doing now,.watch Cameron Polom's interview with him tonight at six on ABC 15.
