Two men arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after ramming Wonderful security vehicle

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Two men are facing assault with a deadly weapon charges after allegedly slamming a car into a security vehicle while trying to escape during a suspected copper theft at the Wonderful Citrus Company on Old River Road.

Kern County Sheriff's investigators also believe the men, identified as James Wilson and Bryan Landreth, may be responsible for more than $100,000 in damages and property theft over the last year.

According to court documents obtained by 23ABC News, Wilson and Landreth were arrested June 18 when Wonderful security staff were called to the area of Old River Road and Highway 166 after motion was detected there by security equipment.

When the security staff got there, they confronted the two men at the scene. That's when, according to court documents, the two men tried to drive away.

The security staff told investigators Wilson was driving and rammed their vehicle, leaving Wilson's vehicle disabled. The two men were then detained by security until deputies arrived.

Wonderful staff told deputies that the damages caused on June 18 was approximately $5,000.

In the court documents, the investigating deputy stated that there have been a number of other similar thefts in the same area over the last year.

Those thefts have caused damages and of more than $100,000 in total and investigators believe Wilson and Landreth may have been involved in those incidents as well, according to the court documents.

Landreth was also found to be wanted on a parole arrest warrant.

They have both pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy charges. Wilson is being held on $20,000 bail, Landreth on $50,000. They're due back in court at the end of July.