SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man faces a criminal charge after police say he ran over a prostitute because she allegedly took his money and used pepper spray on him.
Richard Keano Salas, 22, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault, a second-degree felony.
On Aug. 4, Salt Lake police responded to 715 W. 300 North where a woman had been run over. The woman suffered a fractured neck, fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and multiple cuts and bruises, according to charging documents.
On Aug. 12, police spotted the vehicle suspected of hitting the woman and arrested Salas.
During his interview with police, Salas said he tried to hire the woman as a prostitute, but she took his $20 and ran off, according to charging documents. Salas spotted the woman again a short time later. He claimed she ran up to his car and pepper sprayed him.
When the woman stepped in front of Salas’ vehicle, he “stepped on the gas and ran her over,” according to charging documents. Salas told police he kept driving at that point because he felt they were “even.”