Luis Antonio Mendoza Sanchez, 28, of Berwyn, Illinois, is facing multiple felony charges after police say he struck a gas station employee with his pickup truck while attempting to cut a long line of vehicles waiting for fuel in Merrillville.

According to court documents, Hobart Police responded on August 13 to the Luke Gas Station near Mississippi Street and U.S. 30 for a report of a vehicle collision involving a person. Police learned Mendoza Sanchez was allegedly attempting to enter the parking lot and bypass a long line of vehicles waiting to get gas.

An employee told investigators she was outside helping direct vehicles into the business when another employee alerted her to an irate man in a black pickup truck who was allegedly trying to cut the line. She approached the truck and told the driver he could not cut in front of the other vehicles and would have to wait his turn.

According to the affidavit, Mendoza Sanchez immediately began yelling at the employee and allegedly called her a “dumb bitch” and a “cunt.” He then allegedly told her, “I’ll run you over, you dumb bitch!”

The employee told police she instructed Mendoza Sanchez to be patient and wait. She alleged he then backed up his truck before driving forward, striking her in the right leg and pushing her approximately four to five feet. She told investigators she came close to becoming trapped between his truck and another vehicle in line. She reported minor pain and stiffness in her right thigh following the incident.

A second employee told investigators the pickup had entered the parking lot from U.S. 30 and was attempting to cut in front of vehicles waiting from Mississippi Street. He said he also told the driver he could not cut the line and needed to be patient and wait.

Police later approached Mendoza Sanchez while he was inside his vehicle. According to court documents, he was still yelling and making derogatory comments toward the employee and another woman. Mendoza Sanchez allegedly told police he was just trying to get gas and claimed the employee was “acting extra.”

When police asked why he had not simply backed up and left since there was nobody behind him, Mendoza Sanchez allegedly said he did not know why he had not done so. According to the affidavit, he continued defending his attempt to get gas and tried to blame his vehicle’s transmission.

Investigators later reviewed surveillance video from the gas station. According to the affidavit, the footage showed Mendoza Sanchez entering from the southeast entrance and approaching the long line of vehicles. An employee could be seen waving him away from the line as he appeared to attempt to cut in front of other motorists.

Police said the video showed the employee positioning herself in front of Mendoza Sanchez’s pickup and waving him away. Investigators noted there were no vehicles behind his truck at the time.

According to court documents, Mendoza Sanchez could then be seen backing his vehicle up and driving forward at least twice, striking the employee and pushing her backward. Police said the impact caused the employee to appear to hop along the ground in an apparent effort to avoid being run over.

The footage allegedly showed Mendoza Sanchez continuing to drive forward while the employee remained in front of the vehicle, with the front bumper appearing to make continual contact with her body. The affidavit states Mendoza Sanchez also appeared animated as he continued confronting the employee and others, although the surveillance video did not contain audio.

Charges filed August 14:

• Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon — Level 5 Felony
• Intimidation, Drawing or Using a Deadly Weapon — Level 5 Felony
• Criminal Recklessness Committed with a Deadly Weapon — Level 6 Felony