Man Held After Neighbor Is Struck by Pickup Truck

A 28-year-old man was arrested Sunday after he struck a woman with his pickup truck and then rammed into two mobile homes, authorities said.

Michael Rowlan, of Lancaster, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, said Deputy Donna Levi of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is being held at the Men’s Central Jail on $15,000 bail.

The woman he struck, Brenda Rush, 32, suffered numerous bruises, a broken wrist and a head injury, Levi said. The victim was airlifted to Antelope Valley Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition.

Police said Rowlan fought briefly with neighbor John Rush--Brenda’s husband--before the impromptu demolition derby began at the Del Sur Gardens Trailer Park in the 9000 block of 90th Street West.

Rowland then got into his pickup truck and backed into one mobile home, Levi said, knocking it off its foundation before bearing down on the Rushes’ mobile home.

As Rowlan accelerated to a ramming speed of about 25 m.p.h., he struck Brenda Rush.

Sheriff’s deputies arrived to find Rowlan sitting in yet another pickup truck outside his home. As deputies approached the suspect, he began spitting, yelling and kicking at the deputies, who used pepper spray without much effect, Levi said.

Deputy Dan Coon, the arresting officer at the scene, suspected that Rowlan, who did not yield to the mace-like spray, may have been under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest, Levi said.