GARDEN GROVE, Calif.—A carjacking suspect was arrested after stealing a pickup in Garden Grove, authorities said Dec. 13.
The crime occurred about 1 a.m. Sunday in the area of Flower Street and Central Avenue, according to Garden Grove police Sgt. Evan Beresford.
“The victim was asleep in his vehicle when the suspect opened the unlocked passenger door and pointed a black handgun at him, demanding he get out of the vehicle,” Beresford said. “The victim got out of the vehicle and Cruz drove off southbound from the location in it.”
The white Nissan Frontier contained several thousand dollars of painting equipment in the bed, Beresford said.
The stolen pickup was located in the 11000 block of Stonecress Avenue in Fountain Valley, he said. Detectives observed several people removing items from it and placing them in a U-Haul which was then backed into a residence on Stonecress Avenue.
Investigators were able to obtain a search warrant for the residence, which the suspect was seen leaving, and he was detained a short distance away.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Brea resident Denny Cruz, was positively identified by the victim, Beresford said.
“The search warrant was executed and all of the stolen equipment taken from the vehicle was recovered and returned to the victim,” he said.
The vehicle was also recovered a short distance away from the residence.
This investigation was ongoing and any witnesses with information were asked to contact detectives at 714-741-5837.
