Man's arm almost severed by alleged gas thief

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By ROCHELLE E.B. GILKEN

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, April 24, 2008

WEST PALM BEACH — Steven Hand's arm was nearly severed when he tried to protect himself from a machete-wielding man angry that Hand spotted him stealing gas, police said.

Hand, of Lantana, was driving in the 300 block of Maddock Street on Wednesday when he saw a man siphoning gas from a parked car. Hand yelled that he was going to call the police and kept driving.



Ramirez

When he got to the next intersection, the man pulled up next to him in a car, got out and raised the machete over his head. Hand raised his arms to protect himself and the weapon sliced him below his left forearm, police said.

He was listed in good condition Thursday night at St. Mary's Medical Center.

Police responded to the scene, and Hand described the attacker and his vehicle. Elmer Lopez Ramirez, 36, was stopped a few blocks away, and police found a bloody machete in the car.

Ramirez could not explain what happened in the altercation, police said. He was charged with attempted murder.

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