Carjacking suspect sought by police

Peninsula authorities are searching for a carjacking suspect who held a knife to a woman's stomach and forced her to drive to the San Mateo Medical Center, police said.

The episode kicked off just before 9 a.m. Thursday when Belmont police officers tried to stop a vehicle traveling north on Highway 101.

The driver did not pull over and led the officers in a pursuit that ultimately ended near Highway 92 and Hillsdale Boulevard in San Mateo, according to the San Mateo Police Department.

The suspect got out of the vehicle and ran toward Fiesta Meadows Park. At the park, the suspect got into an occupied vehicle, held a knife to the adult female driver's stomach and forced her to drive to the San Mateo Medical Center, police said.

When the victim and the suspect reached the hospital, the suspect entered the facility but then immediately exited and headed north on Edison Street, police said.

A person matching the suspect's description was spotted a short time later near Fernwood Avenue and Hillsdale Boulevard. Police said the person asked someone for a ride before jumping into the creek between Hillsdale Boulevard and 36th Avenue.

Officers arrived to find the suspect in the creek. The suspect spotted the officers and went deeper into the creek, police said.

Police cordoned off an area that included Laurel Elementary School, Abbott Middle School and Hillsdale High School. The schools were placed on “secure campus” status while officers searched for the suspect. The suspect, however, eluded officers.

A description of the suspect was not immediately available Friday night.

Anyone with surveillance footage or information related to the case can contact San Mateo police Detective Sgt. Kurt Rodenspiel at 650522-7662 or krodenspiel@cityofsanmateo.org. Tips can be submitted anonymously at http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or 650-522-7676.