Carjacking suspect apprehended
Juvenile taken into custody after reportedly stealing a vehicle at gunpoint in Canyon Country
A carjacking suspect who reportedly stole a vehicle at gunpoint in Canyon Country Sunday afternoon was in custody by the evening, according to law enforcement officials.
The incident was reported shortly after 2 p.m. on Pauline Court, near Jakes Way, where the suspect reportedly pointed a black handgun at the victim before stealing her vehicle, a 2014 silver Nissan Altima, and traveling westbound toward Sierra Highway and out of view, according to Lt. James Royal of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Around 4:30 p.m., the vehicle’s license plate number was picked up by a camera
system near the intersection of Sepulveda and Crenshaw boulevards in Torrance, according to Sgt. Mark Ponegalek of the Torrance Police Department.
Torrance Police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, and a pursuit ensued when the vehicle failed to yield, Ponegalek said.
The pursuit ended near the intersection of Madrona Avenue and Plaza del Amo when officers were able to successfully carry out a pursuit intervention technique, or PIT maneuver, where they used their patrol vehicle to force the Nissan to turn sideways, causing the vehicle to collide with a light pole, landing on its side, Ponegalek added.
The suspect, a juvenile with an outstanding arrest warrant for a robbery, was then taken into custody, with officers also locating a replica handgun in the vehicle, according to Ponegalek.
The victim, the mother of former Signal photojournalist Austin Dave, was arriving at a small family lunch when she was approached by the suspect, who demanded her keys, Dave said.
“We’re ultimately thankful my mom is OK and was unharmed,” Dave said. “The crime does take an emotional toll. We’re focused on the traumatic impact the situation has had on her and the rest of our family. … We’re thankful for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies that responded and for the Torrance Police officers that located the vehicle and aided in bringing the suspect to face his alleged crime.”