A man who was having his Mercedes repossessed in El Segundo allegedly took off behind the wheel with the repo man on the hood for three blocks before bucking him off the car and causing “significant” injuries, cops say.

Authorities were called to El Segundo Boulevard and Main Street around 1:54 p.m. yesterday based on reports of an alleged felony hit-and-run, according to El Segundo police:

There they discovered that Stephen Paul Jimenez, 33, allegedly hid in the car while it was being repossessed, started the engine, hit the repo guy, and drove with him on the hood until jerking the wheel to make him fall off, according to an El Segundo police statement.

When cops arrived, Jimenez wasn't there, they say. Here's what the department says happened:


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Jimenez allegedly started the car and drove into the victim, who landed on the hood. A witness observed Jimenez accelerate and speed away with the victim still holding onto the hood for over three city blocks. Jimenez allegedly jerked the steering wheel at high speed, which caused the victim to lose his grip and tumble onto the street.

The victim was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for treatment, cops say.

Meanwhile authorities say they discovered the white car in an abandoned lot in Manhattan Beach and sat on it until the suspect showed up.

Jimenez was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and jailed in lieu of a half-million-dollars, the department says.

Investigators want to talk to more witnesses. If you saw something call Det. Eric Atkinson at 310-524-2216.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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