By Aaron Burgin, The Porterville Recorder
Tulare County Sheriff's Deputies are searching for two men who mugged a man Sunday at a gas station in Terra Bella.

Michael Hackett, 42, said he was doing work at the Chevron station at Teapot Dome Avenue and Highway 65 when two Hispanic men approached him, one whom tried to strike him in the head with a tire iron.

The man then tried to drag Hackett into a nearby orange grove while the other man got into Hackett's vehicle.

Hackett was able to get away from the first suspect, who then also got into Hackett's vehicle, which was towing a trailer.

The vehicle and trailer, which contained a large amount of tools and equipment, is valued at over $22,000.

The Sheriff's Department South End Investigation unit is investigating the crime.

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1047, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Jan. 30, 2007