Carjacking leads to quick police chase

Deepa Bharath

Newport Beach Police arrested a San Diego teenager Thursday after the

17-year-old allegedly carjacked a local resident and led officers on

a high-speed pursuit through residential areas, officials said.

The incident started at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, when the boy

approached a 24-year-old Newport Beach man about buying a car, Sgt.

Steve Shulman said. The teenager’s name was not revealed because he

is a juvenile.

After taking a test drive in the Honda Prelude, both exited the

car in the 1900 block of Sherington Place to examine it, Shulman

said. The teenager then shoved the victim, jumped into the car and

drove away, he said.

“The victim had a cell phone, so he called the police right away,”

Shulman said.

Two patrol officers then spotted the stolen vehicle at the

intersection of Newport Boulevard and Broadway in Costa Mesa and

starting pursuing it, he said. The teenager was traveling 40 to 50

mph in the residential area east of Newport Boulevard. The chase

lasted about two minutes, after which the boy lost control of the car

and crashed near Flower Street and Orange Avenue, Shulman said.

The suspect did not give up. Instead, he exited the car and

starting running, Shulman said. Officers ran after him and were

helped by another officer, who started pursuing the teen on foot.

“Meanwhile, a good Samaritan on a bicycle tried to stop the

suspect,” he said.

The suspect grabbed the Newport Beach resident and threw him down

to the ground, but that delayed his escape long enough for the

officers to catch up to him, Shulman said. The name of the resident

was not released.

No one was injured in the incident. The teenager did not carry any

weapons, Shulman said. The suspect, who was being held in Newport

Beach city jail, was expected to be transported to juvenile hall

later Thursday, he said.

The teen was arrested on suspicion of carjacking and evading the

police, which is a felony.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.