Yesterday afternoon, a woman called 911 and reported someone was forcefully taking her car from her in a parking lot near Euclid St and Katella Ave., according to the Anaheim Police Department.
The suspect ran up to her vehicle, pulled her from the driver’s seat, assaulted her, and drove off in her Toyota 4-Runner. As he fled, he also caused a collision with another vehicle.
Within minutes, officers found the 4-Runner unoccupied and the suspect running from the area. The officers gave chase on foot and the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect, a 19-year-old Anaheim resident, was booked on felony charges including carjacking and aggravated assault.
The Anaheim Police are grateful for the victim’s quick thinking and cooperation, and they applaud the swift, coordinated response by the officers who brought this incident to a close.
Here are the likely penalties the 19-year-old suspect could face under California law:
- Carjacking (Penal Code §215)
- Felony and considered a violent crime
- 3, 5, or 9 years in state prison
- Fines up to $10,000
- Counts as a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law
- Aggravated Assault (Penal Code §245)
- “Wobbler” offense (can be charged as misdemeanor or felony)
- Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in county jail
- Felony: 2 to 4 years in state prison and fines up to $10,000
- Sentence enhancements if a deadly weapon was used
- Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage (Vehicle Code §20002)
- Misdemeanor
- Up to 6 months in county jail
- Fines up to $1,000
- Possible probation and DMV points