Woman Carjacks Newspaper Truck, Tours IE On 6 Freeways: Police

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 30-year-old woman was jailed Monday after allegedly carjacking a newspaper delivery truck driver at knifepoint in Riverside and then leading police on a zig-zag chase down six Inland freeways, according to police and booking records. The accused thief ran through or over several barricades and spike strips before eventually being arrested at a gas station in Redlands.

The incident began to unfold around 3:20 a.m. Saturday, in the area of 14th and Mulberry streets, according to Riverside police. That's near the Riverside Press-Enterprise's printing plant.

"The victim was stopped at a traffic light when the female suspect entered his vehicle with a large knife and attempted to cut him," police said. "The victim got out of the vehicle and the female suspect drove away."

Though the victim exited the truck — he left his cellphone inside, police said. That proved to be a useful tool in helping to capture the woman, who was later identified as Amber Ranes.

"One of our officers was able to track the victim's phone, which was still inside the vehicle, and direct the California Highway Patrol to its location," police said.

The California Highway Patrol later spotted the truck near Spruce Street at Iowa Avenue, where officers attempted to pull the suspect over, but she continued driving.

Throughout the pursuit, CHP officers made several unsuccessful attempts to stop the truck, including laying down spike strips and setting up a barricade, all of which the suspect drove through, police said.

Ranes drove on the 91, 60, 215, 15, 10 and 210 freeways, with the pursuit finally ending at a gas station at the intersection of Alabama Street and Industrial Parkway in Redlands, police said.

She was arrested at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and evading police, according to jail records. Her bail was set at $100,000.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone / City News Service contributed to this report