Bend man jailed in bike theft try, assault

A 27-year-old Bend man was arrested Friday on assault and robbery charges, accused of stealing another man’s bike and punching him in the face when he went to retrieve it, police said.

Police responded around 9:15 a.m. to a reported robbery at the Sud-N-Shine Car Wash at 61516 Highway 97, said police Sgt. Mike Landolt.

The 34-year-old victim told officers his bicycle was leaning against a fence on the property and a man later identified as Brandon Leon Hayes grabbed it and began to walk away with it.

The alleged victim said he went up and grabbed the bike from Hays, who punched him in the face near his left eye, causing an injury, Landolt said.

Hays then ran from the scene, without the bike, a Schwinn Sierra mountain bike valued at $100.

Police searched the area and found Hays walking north on Third Street, near Reed Market Road, Landolt said. He was taken into custody and brought to the Deschutes County Jail, where he was booked on charges of third-degree robbery and fourth-degree assault. He also was held without bail on a parole violation, jail records showed.