PALO ALTO – A 27-year-old East Palo Alto man was arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of carjacking a motorhome last week in Palo Alto, according to police.
Shortly before 11 a.m., officers in East Palo Alto spotted the stolen vehicle driving near the Ravenswood Shopping Center, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a statement.
Officers stopped the motorhome on Wilks Street near Gates Street and detained the male driver and female passenger.
The driver was identified as the suspect who carjacked the motorhome around 12:35 a.m., on Oct. 20 in the 400 block of Matadero Avenue in Palo Alto, according to police.
Police said the victim was asleep inside his parked car directly in front of the motorhome when he was awakened by the sound of an engine starting. He stepped out to find a man he did not know in the driver’s seat of the motorhome. There was a brief struggle, and the victim fell from the driver’s side step as the suspect drove away.
Palo Alto police detectives took custody of the suspect and booked him into Santa Clara County jail on charges of carjacking and elder abuse because the victim was more than 65 years old.
The passenger was not involved with the carjacking and was released, according to police.
The motorhome, meanwhile, was returned to the victim.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.
Source: www.mercurynews.com