Garden Grove Man, 41, Accused Of Carjacking 2 Vehicles
GARDEN GROVE (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a 41-year-old Garden Grove man tried to carjack two cars Sunday.
In one of the attempts, police said the victim thought the suspect was carrying a gun but it turned out to be a black wall bracket, wrapped in plastic, to resemble a firearm.
Officers were dispatched to the area of 15th Street and Brookhurst Street just after 7 a.m.
The victim was approached by the suspect, who demanded the vehicle, and displayed what the victim thought was a gun in his waistband.
The suspect fled in the vehicle, according to police.
The suspect, now identified as Phuong Ngoc Nguyen, allegedly left his bicycle behind.
As officers were calling in the suspect description, Santa Ana Police received a call of a hit-and-run at Corta Street and Roberts Drive, with a vehicle that matched the victim's vehicle.
Garden Grove officers went to the scene of the hit-and-run. As they arrived, witnesses pointed to a front yard on Roberts Drive where Nguyen was reportedly hiding in some bushes.
Further investigation revealed the suspect abandoned the disabled stolen vehicle, and carjacked a second vehicle, just before police showed up.
Authorities said there was a young child in the backseat of the second vehicle. The child's father was able to wrest the child from the vehicle before the suspect fled in the car.
Officers from the Santa Ana Police Department worked in conjunction with Garden Grove Officers to complete the investigation, and handled the hit-and-run investigation.
Nguyen was booked into the Orange County Jail on two counts of carjacking.
None of the victims were injured.
