Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, February 4, 2010

(02-04) 14:17 PST HAYWARD -- A transient with the words "Why Try" tattooed on his forehead has been charged with forcing a 72-year-old San Leandro man from his car and choking him, leaving him by the side of the road and then returning minutes later to choke him again, authorities said Thursday.

Ali Kimia, 32, who lives in the Hayward area, allegedly stole the man's Honda Accord and robbed him of personal belongings at Grove Way and Western Boulevard in an unincorporated area near Hayward at 2 a.m. Jan. 26.

The carjacker choked the man, whose name was not released, and drove away, only to return and resume strangling him, said Alameda County sheriff's Sgt. Scott Dudek.

A resident saw the elderly man being swung around "like a rag doll" and interrupted the attack, and the assailant drove away, Dudek said. The sergeant said the victim had probably been just a few seconds away from being choked to death.

Oakland police spotted Kimia driving the Accord on Saturday afternoon and arrested him, Dudek said. Kimia was identified in part through a pair of distinctive tattoos on his forehead, one over the right eye that reads, "Why," and one over the left eye reading, "Try."

He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on charges of attempted murder, robbery, carjacking and elder abuse. He has a previous burglary arrest, records show.

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.