Elderly man carjacked in Whittier

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WHITTIER >> Police are seeking a trio of carjackers who made off with an elderly man’s car following a minor traffic collision in Whittier on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The crime took place about 10:30 a.m. as the victim was driving in the 15700 block of Mar Vista Street, Whittier police officials said in a written statement.
“The victim was followed by and older model green (Ford) Explorer,” according to the statement. “The explorer rear-ended the victim vehicle, causing the victim to exit his vehicle to exchange information. Two male subjects exited the rear of the Ford explorer and drove off with the victim’s vehicle.”
The driver of the Ford SUV sped away as well, police said.
Detailed suspect descriptions were not available. They were riding in a green, older-model Ford Explorer with gray bumpers and oxidation on the hood and roof.
Police obtained images of the suspects’ SUV.
The stolen car — a gray, four-door, 2012 Toyota Avalon with a California license plate of 6VPU334 and a missing rear bumper — remained missing Thursday, Whittier police Officer John Scoggins said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Whittier police Detective Jose Bolanos at 562-567-9281, or the Whittier Police Department’s crime tip hotline at 562-567-9299.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Whittier Police Department.

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Two men sought in carjacking in forest north of Glendora


ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST >> Two men with a handgun carjacked two other men along Glendora Mountain Road in the Angeles National Forest north of Glendora early Saturday morning, authorities said.
Two men in their 20s were standing near their gray, 2013 Hyundai Genesis about 3:30 a.m. along a turnout of Glendora Mountain Road at Glendora Ridge Road, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Thomas Reid said.
The two carjackers approached in a dark-colored, newer-model Honda Civic, Reid said.
“The suspects approached (the victims) and complimented them on their car,” the lieutenant said.
One of the then brandished a handgun and drove away in the victims’ car, he said.
Deputies described the carjackers as two Latino men between 25 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Both wore dark clothing, and one of the carjackers had a mustache.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s San Dimas Station at 909-450-2709. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man beaten and carjacked in Norwalk


NORWALK >> Deputies are seeking two men who beat and carjacked another man in Norwalk over the weekend, officials said.
The crime unfolded about 5:35 a.m. Sunday at Clarkdale Avenue and Pine Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Hank Ortega said.
A man estimated to be in his late-20s was sitting in his car, with the engine running, as he waited for a friend, the sergeant said.
Two men walking down the street approached the victim, opened a door of his car and began fighting with him.
The victim got out of his car during the struggle, with the vehicle still running, Ortega said. He managed to break free from his attackers and ran to a nearby gas station to seek help.
The carjackers then got into the victim’s charcoal gray, 2003 Infiniti G35 and drove away.
Both attackers were described as Latino men between 20 and 25 years old. One wore a black shirt, black shorts and a mustache. The other wore a white shirt. One of the two suspects wore a baseball cap, but it was not clear which one.
Ortega said the victim suffered apparently minor injuries and declined to be taken to a hospital.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Teen arrested following Pasadena carjacking


PASADENA >> A 17-year-old boy carjacked a man early Sunday before being quickly apprehended and arrested, authorities said.
A 47-year-old Pasadena man was asleep in his 1989 Toyota Corolla about 3:55 a.m. as it was parked in the 900 block of North Raymond Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Mark Goodman said.
The teenage suspect approached the victim and demanded his car while holding an item in his hand, the lieutenant said.
“The victim believed the suspect was in possession of a handgun,” he said. The man turned over his car to the suspect, who drove away.
“Officers responded and located the vehicle approximately one block away, being drive by the suspect,” Goodman said.
Police pulled over the Toyota at Summit Avenue and Painter Street and took the teenage suspect into custody. He was taken to juvenile, and the car was returned to the victim.
No gun was recovered, Goodman said. It appeared the suspect used a cell phone to simulate a handgun during the crime.

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Woman charged with South El Monte carjacking, wild police chase

•VIDEO: Raw CBS footage of pursuit

SOUTH EL MONTE >> Prosecutors filed four felony charges against a woman they say carjacked another woman at knifepoint in South El Monte, then led police on a televised chase to Bell Gardens
The suspect, Kelsey Woods, also listed as Britany Woods, 26, rammed a CHP car during the chase. Woods was previously convicted of leading police on a chase and driving against traffic in 2015 when she embarked on the alleged series of crimes on Wednesday, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said in a written statement.
“Woods allegedly approached a woman with a knife in South El Monte and then took the victim’s truck,” Ardalani said.
The suspect was not immediately found following the morning carjacking, however deputies spotted the stolen truck later in the day, officials said. It was still being driven by the suspect, later identified as Woods.
Woods refused to pull over, initiating a pursuit, Ardalani said.
News helicopters broadcast live at the fleeing truck ran over a spike strip, but continued speeding. Sparks flew from the exposed tire rim as the suspect fled.
“During the pursuit, the defendant reportedly drove into oncoming traffic and did not stop at numerous stop lights,” according to Ardalani. “At one point, the defendant allegedly stopped the vehicle, went into reverse and hit the patrol vehicle before she fled the scene again.”
•Video: Raw CBS footage of pursuit
Prosectors charged Woods Friday with carjacking, two counts of assault on a peace officer and recklessly fleeing police, officials said.
Woods is also accused of the special allegation that she personally used a knife in the carjacking.
A scheduled arraignment hearing Friday in the El Monte branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court was continued to Monday, Ardalani said.
If convicted as charged, Ardalani said Woods could face up to 16 years and four months in state prison. Her hometown was unclear.
According to county booking records, Woods was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

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One suspect jailed and two more sought following Azusa carjacking, pursuit

AZUSA >> Police jailed one suspect and sought two more following an armed carjacking and pursuit in Azusa early Saturday, officials said.
Jesus Mora, 18, of La Puente was arrested on suspicion of carjacking and robbery following the incident, which began about 2:45 a.m. with a carjacking in a residential neighborhood in the 1300 block of North Dalton Avenue, according to Azusa police Sgt. Robert Landeros.
At least two men used a handgun to carjack a driver, the sergeant said in a written statement. The carjackers fled in the victim’s Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
Within minutes, Azusa police officers then spotted the stolen truck driving in the 800 block of North San Gabriel Avenue, Landeros said.
“The suspects in the vehicle fled from officers and a vehicle pursuit was initiated,” he said. “The stolen vehicle spun out of control and collided into fence in the area of Fourth Street and Barbara Ave. Three adult male suspects fled from the stolen vehicle.”
With help from neighboring police agencies, police found and arrested Mora in the area, Landeros said.
The other two suspects were not found, he said.
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Mora was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending his initial court appearance, scheduled Wednesday in West Covina Superior Court.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Azusa police detectives at 626-812-3200.

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Man carjacked in Pasadena


PASADENA >> A carjacker apparently knocked a man unconscious before driving off in the victim’s car Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
The carjacking took place about 1:30 p.m. in the area of Lincoln Avenue and Washington Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. John Luna said.
A 20-year-old Pasadena man arrived in the neighborhood to visit a friend and left his vehicle parked, unattended with the keys in the ignition, he said.
Upon returning to his late-model Nissan sedan, the victim was confronted by the carjacker, who had the car keys, the lieutenant said.
The victim demanded the keys back, and the carjacker threatened to assault him, Luna said.
The next thing the victim knew, he awoke on the ground with a cut on his forehead, Luna said. The victim believed the suspect had attacked him.
A detailed suspect description was not available.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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UPDATED: West Covina police arrest man and woman following bizarre pursuit, crash in Bassett


WEST COVINA >> In a strange seemingly illogical series chain of events, a man and woman called police on themselves to falsely report a carjacking Friday before leading West Covina police on a chase that ended with a crash in Bassett that injured two bystanders, including a little girl, authorities said.
Britanny Benquenchea, 26, and Joshua Rodriguez, 27, both of Victorville, were accused of crimes including evading police and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the bizarre episode, which began just after 7 p.m. at the Plaza West Covina shopping mall, West Covina police Lt. Travis Tibbetts said. Both are on parole for robbery, and Benquenchea wears a GPS tracking device.
Police first responded to the mall, 112 Plaza Drive, after a woman called 911 to report she had been carjacked of her 2015 Toyota Corolla at gunpoint by a man and woman, the lieutenant said.
Responding officers spotted a car matching the description of the stolen Toyota, containing a man and woman matching the description of the carjackers, driving just south of the mall.
Benquenchea, who was driving, refused to pull over for police, initiating a high-speed chase.
The pursuit ended minutes later when the fleeing car struck a civilian vehicle at Amar Road and Willow Avenue, Tibbetts said.
Both suspects were detained at the scene, he said. Police used a K-9 to help apprehend the male suspect, who refused to comply with officers’ commands.
An 8-year-old girl who was riding in the car struck by the fleeing suspects was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but was expected to survive, Tibbetts said. A woman in the vehicle, described only as an adult, was also hospitalized. Neither victims injuries were believed to be life threatening.
The investigation then took an unexpected turn.
Officers determined Benquenchea herself had called the police to falsely report being carjacked, Tibbetts said.
After being involved in a fight and getting escorted from the mall by security guards, Benquenchea and Rodriguez became involved in a confrontation with security before speeding away from the mall, police said.
The suspects may have struck a parked car as they left, he said. The details of the incident at the mall remained unclear late Friday.
“Apparently, they decided to call and report a carjacking, describing themselves as the suspects,” Tibbetts said.
The call appeared to be some sort of ill-thought-out ruse to divert police attention from the mall incident, he said. Although Benquenchea gave descriptions matching herself and Rodriguez as that of the phony carjackers, she reported the purported carjackers had fled in the opposite direction.
Benquenchea gave her real first name while reporting the carjacking, Tibbetts added. And when police called back the number, Benquenchea’s phone rang through the Toyota’s wireless audio system.
“I’ve never seen that before,” Tibbetts said.
Witness Christopher Morales posted footage of the male suspect being taken into custody with the help of a police K-9 on the social media network.
Another witness, April Aguirre, posted video of the aftermath of the collision in which firefighters can be seen treating an injured patient on Twitter.
The female suspect appeared to be wearing a GPS ankle bracelet, she said. “When they brought her out she seemed like she was on drugs,” the witness added.
In an email, Aguirre said she did not see the crash itself, as she arrived afterward.
“When I got there they had a male on a gurney taking him away. Then a couple minutes later they had a female in the video in handcuffs & she could barely walk or she was resisting it seemed like,” she said.
The woman yelled out, “Please don’t leave me,” and other phrases as firefighters treated her injuries, Aguirre said.
Both suspects were hospitalized prior to booking, Tibbetts said.

VIDEO: Courtesy of Christopher Morales

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Man carjacked in Pasadena


PASADENA >> A man attacked and carjacked a another man as he stood outside his sports car in Pasadena early Saturday, police said.
A 24-year-old Los Angeles man parked his Audi S3 just before 4 a.m. at Mountain Street and Summit Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Mark Goodman said.
“The victim was standing outside his vehicle smoking a cigarette,” the lieutenant said. “The suspect approached him from behind and punched him in the face.”
The man fell to the ground, and the carjacker snatched his car keys from his hand before fleeing in the Audi, Goodman said. The victim declined medical treatment.
The stolen 2015 Audi S3 is black and has a California license plate of 7LUN554, Goodman said.
Police described the carjacker as a black man in his 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 175 pounds.
Anyone with information can reach Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Carjacking suspect arrested in East Valinda after pursuit

1230_NWS_SGT-L-CARJACKER1EAST VALINDA >> Deputies arrested a carjacking suspect after he led them on a chase, which ended in a crash in East Valinda Wednesday, authorities said.
The incident began shortly before 2 p.m. when deputies spotted a suspect wanted in connection with a carjacking driving in the unincorporated county area of East Valinda, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials. The SUV has been reported carjacked in Hawthorne, Lt. David Infante said.
“The suspect was considered armed and dangerous,” the lieutenant said.
Aided by a helicopter, deputies chased the SUV along surface streets for about 15 minutes before the driver crashed into a tree along McLaren Street, between Jellick Avenue and Trafalgate Avenue in East Valinda, and continued to flee on foot, officials said.
1230_NWS_SGT-L-CARJACKER2Deputies captured the suspect as he was pounding on or trying to kick in the door of a nearby home, Infante said. The home may have been that of a relative of the suspect.
The name of the suspect was not available Wednesday afternoon pending booking.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

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