Man accused of striking woman with vehicle, fleeing from scene

A local man is facing assault charges after his arrest Saturday morning.

William Flammia, 31, was charged with aggravated assault after an argument involving two women in his vehicle ended with injury, police said.

According to the report by Maricopa police, Flammia was in the driver’s seat of a 2017 Hyundai Tucson at the QuikTrip gas station on John Wayne Parkway, accompanied by a woman in the passenger seat and another in the back seat, identified as Yamen Gharibeh and Wedad Alostaz, respectively.

The two women began arguing when Alostaz was accused of stealing items from Gharibeh’s purse, police said. Upon review of surveillance footage from the QuikTrip, police could see Alostaz exit the Hyundai during the argument.

Flammia then backed up the vehicle while the door was still ajar, allegedly striking Alostaz and knocking her to the ground, police said. Alostaz had visible injuries to her left arm, shoulder and both feet, police said.

Flammia and Gharibeh allegedly fled the scene after the incident and abandoned the vehicle at the Denny’s restaurant, off West Smith-Enke Road, before taking an Uber to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, police said.

Flammia was detained by Ak-Chin Indian Community police at the casino and turned over to the Maricopa Police Department.

He was booked into Pinal County Jail.