San Diego carjacking suspect caught in El Cajon
By Gina Yarbrough
El Cajon, CA–A man accused of a violent carjacking in San Diego was arrested following a brief vehicle pursuit in East County, authorities said.
On September 11, around 12:44 a.m. officers began receiving ALPR notices that a vehicle taken during a carjacking in San Diego was now in El Cajon. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver fled. After a short vehicle pursuit, the driver abandoned the vehicle in the 1200 block of Washington Place and fled on foot. He was located on the roof of a nearby outbuilding by the San Diego Sheriff’s helicopter unit. After a brief standoff with the officers on the scene, including two K9 teams, the driver was safely taken into custody.
Officers also located a loaded, unregistered handgun the driver attempted to get rid of while running from the vehicle.
According to police, the driver, identified as 26-year-old Lorenzo Rubio, of San Diego, has a lengthy arrest history, is on active parole, and has an active warrant for vehicle theft. San Diego police were notified and will be conducting the carjacking investigation.
The El Cajon Police Department recently started an automated license plate reading (ALPR) program. ALPR cameras send a real-time crime alert to law enforcement when a stolen vehicle, or known wanted vehicle, from a state or national database, is detected.
Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311. Individuals with information who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477
