Three men allegedly stole some $700 in cash from a Manteca motorist gassing up at the Chevron gas station at Yosemite and Spreckels avenues about 4 p.m. Thursday with two of them reportedly attacking him while the third made off with his wallet and cash from the front seat of his car.

The victim said the money was from his girlfriend’s paycheck that the trio found in his car.

The driver in his mid-20s said the men drove off as he called police.  As officers were responding he said he went looking for them himself driving by a nearby motel and found the men’s vehicle in the parking lot.  When it left he gave chase and so did the cops.

Two of the suspects were stopped by police as their vehicle was eastbound on Yosemite Avenue at Highway 99 attempting to turn onto the southbound on ramp and onto the freeway.  Police were seen removing a baggie of marijuana buds from the vehicle after they took the men into custody,  charging them with grand theft with gang enhancements and with terrorist threats.  

Valentin Jose Lucero, 38, of Manteca was arrested on three felony charges and was being held in the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp. He was charged with terrorist threats and with committing a felony while on parole.

Michael Ryan Serbousek, 23, of Manteca was placed in the county jail Thursday night in lieu of $355,000 bail on three felony charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, street terrorism and grand theft. He is to appear in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court on Monday at 1:30 p.m. as is Lucero.