Paso Robles Resident Arrested After Using Tractor to Crush Car in Santa Maria
Police say 38-year-old Levi Gaze of Paso Robles drove a front-loader tractor into a sedan during an argument and was taken into custody.
Around 12:03 a.m. Saturday, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 1700 block of Sinton Road in Santa Maria after receiving a report of a tractor striking a car. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Levi Gaze of Paso Robles, is accused of driving a front-loader tractor into a dark, late-model sedan, crushing the hood, bumper, windshield and trunk, and then using the tractor’s bucket to inflict additional damage.
A female passenger in the vehicle was able to leave the scene without injury. Authorities arrested Gaze without incident and transported him to the Northern Branch Jail, where he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism, and a pre-existing no-bail warrant from San Luis Obispo County. He remains detained without bail.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the potential danger of using heavy equipment in personal disputes and underscores local law-enforcement response.
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