1 Carjacking Suspect Arrested, 1 More Still Free SMPD Says

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica police arrested one of two suspects believed to have stolen a woman's car at gunpoint in a parking lot near the pier last week, officials said.

According to SMPD the incident happened before 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16 when two men approached a woman at Parking Lot 1 North brandishing a gun and demanded she give them the keys to her car.

"The victim complied and the suspects fled in her vehicle, a gray Ford Focus. The vehicle description was broadcast to all assisting units" SMPD said in a statement.

After a short while officers were able to find the Ford Focus on eastbound Interstate 10 and began to follow the vehicle. During the pursuit officers said they witnessed the passenger jump out of the car before it continued driving, exiting at Robertson Boulevard and crashing into other vehicles.

Officers were able to apprehend the driver, identified at 22-year-old Jonathan Manuel Perez from Los Angeles. Perez was transported to Santa Monica Police Jail and booked on charges of carjacking and other vehicle code sections. SMPD officers said Perez was on active parole for a prior armed carjacking.

A replica firearm was found in the stolen vehicle, authorities said.

Despite police setting up a perimeter in the area the passenger jumped out of the car and assistance from an Los Angeles Police Department helicopter, officers weren't able to locate the second suspect. The suspect was describes as a Hispanic man of unknown age who was wearing a black jacket, black pants and a dark face mask at the time of the incident.

Anyone who may have information about the second suspect or the incident as a whole was urged to contact detective Ismael Tavera at 310-458-2256 or the Watch Commander at 310-458-8426.