TEMECULA: Woman trying to stop carjacking dragged and injured, suspect later arrested

TEMECULA — A woman who attempted to give an acquaintance a ride home was later carjacked by the man, early Monday morning, November 27. When the victim attempted to stop the carjacking, she was dragged by her own vehicle as the man was stealing it from her. Officials later located and arrested the man in Apple Valley, according to officials.

After an investigation, deputies arrested Curtis Jones, 25, of Menifee. He was later booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve Fredericks explained after Jones’ arrest.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Temecula Police Station responded to a business on the 27000 block of Jefferson Avenue in Temecula about 2:30 a.m., after multiple witnesses called 911 to report the early morning carjacking.

When they arrived, deputies found the victim who had sustained moderate injuries during the violent incident.

During their investigation deputies interviewed the victim as well as “numerous witnesses to the incident,” said Fredericks.

Based on the victim’s and witness statements, deputies determined the victim had been attempting to give Jones a ride home from the business when the carjacking happened.

“As they began to drive, Jones appeared too intoxicated to provide the victim with his home address,” Fredericks explained. “The victim decided she was unable to give him a ride home and returned to the location.”

After returning to the parking lot of the business, both Jones and the victim exited the car; however, Jones jumped into the driver’s seat of the victim’s white, 2014 Infiniti Q50 sedan and began to drive away.

The victim attempted to stop Jones from stealing her car and “grabbed onto him through the open driver’s side door,” at which time Jones accelerated and dragged the victim through the parking lot, said Fredericks.

As she was being dragged through the parking lot by the intoxicated man, the victim eventually fell away and sustained moderate injuries.

Deputies summoned medical assistance and paramedics treated the victim’s injuries at the scene.

Deputies investigating the incident notified other area sheriff’s stations and allied agencies regarding the incident and other deputies eventually located the victim’s stolen vehicle abandoned in a dirt field in the city of Menifee.

Deputies processed the vehicle for evidence and later returned the car to the injured victim.

Two days after the carjacking, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department “located the suspect hiding at a relative’s residence in Apple Valley,” Fredericks explained.

Jones was subsequently arrested and transported back to Riverside County where he was later booked into jail.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the incident is encouraged to contact Officer Danny Hollingsworth with the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number TE173310008 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.