Modesto man assaulted in his garage in attempted robbery

MODESTO -- A man was hit with a gun and his girlfriend threatened with a knife during an attempted home-invasion robbery Tuesday afternoon in downtown Modesto.

The man was working in his open garage at his home in the 400 block of Olive Avenue about 2:15 p.m. when two Latino men approached him, said Modesto police Sgt. Pat Kimes.

They inquired about his motorcycles and the victim said they could look at them. When they entered his garage, one pulled a gun and the other a knife.

The man with the knife entered the home and demanded money from the girlfriend. She said she had none, Kimes said.

The man with the gun demanded that the victim close his garage door but he refused, so the man hit him in the head with the butt of the gun. The impact caused the weapon to fire, sending a bullet through the roof, Kimes said.

The man with the knife left the house, and the two ran to a dark-colored sport utility vehicle and fled. Nothing was taken.