Malibu Carjacking, Car Theft Suspect Arrested By Ventura County Sheriff's
MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — The Ventura County Sheriff's Department has announced the arrest of a 23-year-old carjack and car theft suspect.
Eric Ramos of Oxnard was identified as the suspect.
Officials said Friday, just before 7 p.m. the department received a 911 call reporting a carjacking that just occurred on the PCH just south of Yerba Buena Road in Ventura County.
On arrival, deputies learned the victim had been seated in his vehicle parked along the PCH. The victim told authorities he noticed a sedan stop and park directly behind him. Moments later, a male suspect, later identified as Ramos, approached the victim's vehicle and forcibly removed him from inside.
Officials said there was a brief struggle and the victim sustained minor injuries.
Ramos allegedly then drove the vehicle from the scene.
Deputies stopped to check on a vehicle matching the description of the car on Las Posas Road in the Oxnard Plains area.At this time, deputies said they also learned the sedan that had parked behind the victim has been reported stolen from the city of Oxnard.
Deputies initiated a search for Ramos using K-9 units and a helicopter. In addition, deputies called in assistance from the Sheriff's Gang Unit, the Camarillo Police Special Enforcement Detail, the Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau and the Sheriff's Advanced Real-Time Information Center (ARTIC.)
During the search for Ramos, deputies said they received a call from the CHP about a vehicle theft that had just occurred in the area of Wood Road and Hueneme Road. In this incident, officials said a man believed to be Ramos, asked a driver for a ride. He allegedly got into that person's vehicle and sped off leaving the driver on the side of the road.
Just before midnight, ARTIC learned that the second victim's stolen vehicle was found, crashed and abandoned, on a remote stretch of land in the Leone Valley area.
Deputies said Ramon was found just before 1 a.m. walking near the abandoned vehicle.
He reportedly displayed injuries consistent with a recent traffic accident.
He was taken into custody by members of the Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau.
Ramos has been booked into the Ventura County Jail on one count of carjacking and two counts of auto theft. His bail is currently set at $110,000. He is set to appear in court on Tuesday.
