A man escaped a police chase early Monday after he carjacked a woman on Third Street and California Avenue.
Just after 2 a.m., a woman was approached by a man, pretending to have a gun, and demanded her purse and car keys, according to Santa Monica Police Lt. Frank Fabrega. The man stole the dark-colored Alpha Romeo and headed south.
Within minutes of the call to police, officers spotted the vehicle near Lincoln Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. Police followed the car on Broadway headed east until the suspect abandoned it on the 1200 block of Broadway. He then fled on foot.
Despite police blocking off the area, the suspect managed to elude officers. The woman’s belongings and the car were returned to her.
The suspect is described as a black male, 5” 10” tall, with a heavy build, dark complexion and dark eyes. At the time of the incident, he was wearing dark clothes, a nylon-type ski mask and a baseball cap.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 30, 2002. Read the original PDF.