Diners who ran over Anaheim waitress appear in court

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- Two of the four diners involved in running over their Anaheim waitress while trying to escape without paying their restaurant bill made a brief court appearance in Santa Ana on Tuesday.

Rowshaid Pellum, a 24-year-old Cerritos resident, is accused of being the driver who ran over the waitress. In court Tuesday, he smiled and expressed confusion when asked if he wanted an attorney. He first said he didn't want one and then changed his mind and was appointed a public defender.

Long Beach resident Santeea Ralph, 23, also appeared in court.

Authorities say Pellum, Ralph and two other Long Beach women, Markeisha Williams, 18, and Shyteice Miles, 19, were caught on surveillance video entering the Mexico Lindo Restaurant in unincorporated Anaheim before 6 p.m. Sunday.

They stayed about 45 minutes then left without paying. The 28-year-old waitress Maria Uriostegui chased after them and knocked on the window of their car, but they kept driving and ran her over in the restaurant parking lot.

In an interview the next day after getting out of the hospital, Uriostegui said, "I got hit by the car, lost consciousness and when I did regain consciousness, the last thing I remember the wheel going over my feet."

Surveillance video shows Uriostegui getting up right after being run over. She stumbles, but is able to walk. Fortunately, she suffered no broken bones. She says she has a few scrapes, a swollen lung and a sore body, but is grateful to be alive for her husband and two children.

Early Monday morning, Orange County sheriff's deputies located the vehicle at a motel in Stanton. The four suspects were arrested.

Pellum is facing felony charges, including aggravated assault and hit-and-run with injury.

Prosecutors say all four are charged with defrauding an inn keeper for allegedly skipping out on their bill.

Pellum and Ralph are expected to be back in court April 2. Their bail was set at $50,000.

The other two defendants are out of custody after posting bail. They'll be arraigned at a later date.