Good Samaritans stop carjacking suspect

BARRIO LOGAN

A man attempted to steal a young woman’s car Thursday evening in Barrio Logan, but witnesses jumped in to help stop the thief until police arrived and arrested him, authorities said.

The incident began around 7:25 p.m. when the suspect, a 41-year-old man, approached the 22-year-old victim outside a secured parking lot on South 16th Street between Logan and National avenues, San Diego police Officer Robert Heims said.

The suspect began arguing with the victim outside the parking lot, then followed her once she got inside, Heims said in a news release. When the victim reached her car, the suspect began arguing with her again.

She got into the car and tried to drive away, police said.

As she did so, the suspect reached into the car, snatched the victim’s phone and then yanked on her keys, breaking the key off inside the ignition, Heims said. When the victim got out of her car and tried to take back her phone, the suspect jumped into the car and drove away.

When he drove up to the parking lot’s closed gate, several good Samaritans stopped and held him until police arrived and arrested him on suspicion of carjacking, Heims said.