By Shari Kaplan
Los Gatos police detectives are investigating an assault and attempted robbery that took place Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m. in which a 55-year-old Santa Clara resident was assaulted in the hallway of an office building located at 475 Alberto Way in Los Gatos.
According to LGPD Sgt. Tricia Friedrich, Martin Spergel was confronted by a man who tried to steal his wallet. Spergel defended himself, and he and the suspect exchanged blows, which resulted in jaw and stomach injuries to Spergel. The suspect ran away without taking anything from Spergel.
A co-worker heard Spergel call for help and phoned police, who responded along with paramedics and a Central Fire District truck. According to the police report, Spergel experienced some type of heart problems after the attack but declined treatment for this or the injuries he sustained. He was later taken to Good Samaritan Hospital by a friend when he suffered another bout of heart trouble.
A witness to the assault told police the suspect was wearing dark clothing and appeared to be a 5-foot, 8-inch African American man in his late 20s to early 30s with a medium build. She also told police of a suspicious vehicle she'd seen in the lot, occupied by a dark-clothed African American man as well as a woman who also appeared to be in her late 20s to early 30s. The vehicle was in "ratty condition" and looked to be a late 1970s or early 1980s gray or brown hatchback sedan, possibly a Toyota, Friedrich said.
Police request any witnesses who may have seen the vehicle, the suspects or the actual assault to call the investigations bureau at 354-6825.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, September 18, 1996.
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