Violent Fremont Carjacking: Transient Arrested

FREMONT, CA — One person has been arrested and photos of a second suspect have been released, after a woman was violently carjacked in Fremont, police say. The woman under arrest, 19-year-old Naomi Melendez, is described as a transient who was detained in Daly City.

The carjacking happened on Monday of last week. A 31-year-old woman who works as a food delivery driver had just made a delivery in the 47500 block of Seabridge Drive at around 10:20 a.m. Police say that she had just gotten back into her car when Melendez "grabbed the victim and dragged her violently out of the vehicle. The suspects then began to batter the victim with large river-rocks, pulled her hair and slammed her face into the asphalt."

Police say that the pair got into the victim's car and drove away, with the man behind the wheel.

The victim's name and an update on her condition has not been released. Police investigators found witnesses and surveillance video to back up the victim's story.

The information on the stolen car was entered into law enforcement databases. On Sunday, an automated license plate reader alerted Daly City Police that the victim’s car was in their city. Officers pulled over the car, with Melendez at the wheel and two other people as passengers.

Fremont Police Detectives went to Daly City and arrested Melendez. The two passengers were interviewed and released. Police also took custody of the car and report that "evidence connecting Melendez to the car-jacking was located inside the vehicle."

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has charged Melendez with felony car-jacking and felony possession of a stolen vehicle.

Meanwhile, detectives are still searching for the man in the surveillance photos with Melendez.
He is described as being Hispanic, in his late teens or early 20's, with short hair and a stocky build. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt with a dark colored sweatshirt tied around his neck, dark pants, and white athletic shoes.

If you can ID the man, call the Fremont Police Department at 510-790-6954 or send an anonymous tip by texting TIP FREMONTPD followed by your message to 888-777.