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# Carjackers lead SMPD on chase near downtown L.A
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/carjackers-lead-smpd-on-chase-near-downtown-l-a/
- Published: 2002-09-03T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:42:57.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: Crime, Downtown, #archive-import

A pair of carjackers led Santa Monica police officers on a wild car chase that ended near downtown Los Angeles.

Edwin Umanzor, of Los Angeles, and an underage female partner, allegedly car-jacked a late model white Toyota Celica from the 1550 beach parking lot on Sept. 2 at 2:44 a.m. A short time later, a police officer checking the area around National Boulevard and Overland Avenue in West Los Angeles reported witnessing a vehicle matching the description of the one stolen from Santa Monica. The officer observed the vehicle as it drove onto the eastbound entrance of the Interstate 10 freeway.

But when officers attempted to pull the car over, the suspect vehicle exited the freeway at 9th Street in Los Angeles and tried to evade police. A vehicle pursuit ensued until the driver of the vehicle struck a parked car near the intersection of 8th Street and Hoover Avenue, just a few blocks west of MacArthur Park.

Both suspects in the vehicle attempted to run from the crash but officers said they were able to immediately capture the female passenger, who’s identity is being withheld because she is under the age of 18.

Umanzor, 22, allegedly climbed over a nearby fence and ran into the Pac Bell SBC building located in the 700 block of Rampart Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Officers said they surrounded the building and contained Umanzor within it. Officers said Umanzor barricaded himself in the building and refused to surrender to police.

The Santa Monica Special Entry Team, a highly-trained equivalent of a SWAT team, was sent into the building to retrieve Umanzor, who was ultimately located and subdued with the assistance of a Santa Monica K-9, police said.

Both suspects were taken to the Santa Monica Jail. Umanzor, the alleged driver of the stolen car, was booked on armed carjacking and other related offenses. His bail has been set at $100,000\. The female suspect, who was the alleged passenger of the vehicle, was transported to Eastlake Juvenile Hall, located just behind the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 3, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/090302.pdf?ref=smdp.com)