Driver suspected of hitting people at Beard Brook homeless camp now in jail

Modesto police say a man suspected of deliberately hitting two people with his car at the Beard Brook Park homeless camp is in custody.

Stanislaus County Probation found Israel Bazan, 29, on Friday morning in an alley between Fifth and Sierra streets, which is near Cesar Chavez Park, according to a Modesto Police Department Facebook post.

Bazan is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder, DUI, battery and several misdemeanors, according to the post. His bail is $1 million.

Police allege Bazan struck two people with his car at Beard Brook on Jan. 29 before crashing his car into a pole and fence while trying to leave. Bystanders restrained him until officers arrived.

He was taken to a Modesto hospital and then transferred to a Fresno hospital for surgery but walked away from that facility Feb. 1, and police allege had been on the run until probation apprehended him Friday.

At the time of the Beard Brook incident, Bazan was out of jail on his own recognizance for DUI and assault charges against a homeless woman in November.

This story was originally published March 25, 2019 at 12:41 PM.