Carlsbad CA— At about 7:45am., deputies from the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station received a call to the Chevron gas station at 236 N. El Camino Real from a 64 year old male stating his vehicle had just been stolen from a nearby location. When the deputies met with the victim, he said he had been using the walk-up ATM at the Chase Bank (105 N. El Camino Real) when he saw an unidentified male suspect walking toward his parked vehicle.
The victim left his keys in his car, a 2009 Toyota Corolla, while using the ATM. The suspect walked directly to the car, got in, and prepared to drive away.
The victim tried to keep the suspect from driving away with the car. The suspect put the vehicle in reverse and began backing out of the parking space with the victim hanging out of the window.
The victim was knocked to the ground but was unhurt. The suspect drove away in the Toyota, northbound on N. El Camino Real. Sheriff’s dispatch reported the vehicle information to surrounding law enforcement agencies via radio.
Officers from the Carlsbad Police Department saw the vehicle in the area of 3000 Ocean Street. The suspect stopped the vehicle and tried to flee on foot. Carlsbad PD officers gave chase and set a perimeter around the area.
The suspect forced his way into a home inside the perimeter. He stole clothing from the resident in an attempt to change his appearance and left the home. Carlsbad Police officers took him into custody after he emerged from the home.
He was turned over to deputies at the scene in Carlsbad. The suspect appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and had to be transported to the hospital prior to booking.
The suspect would not provide any personal identifying information to law enforcement or to hospital staff. He has been tentatively identified as a 24 year old male from Costa Mesa. Once he is positively identified, he will be booked into the Vista Detention Facility on carjacking charges from the case in Encinitas.
Carlsbad Police have additional charges pending related to the same incident.
Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff’s Department non-emergency line at (858)565-5200. You can
remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at
(888)580-8477.