Lakeside Carjacking Suspect Arrested With Help From License Plate Reader

LAKESIDE, CA — A woman parolee suspected of a carjacking in Lakeside was arrested with the help of Automated License Plate Reader technology, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.

Two people were standing outside their GMC Yukon in the 11600 block of Hi Ridge Road, at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, when they were approached by a woman with a handgun, authorities said..

The suspect demanded the sport utility vehicle, as well as items from their pockets, Sgt Colin Snodgrass said in a statement.

"The victims, fearing for their life, complied with the suspect's demands. The suspect then drove away in the Yukon," Snodgrass said.

Deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff's Substation responded and searched the area for the suspect, but did not find her. That's when deputies entered the Yukon into the ALPR camera system in their efforts to locate what they considered an armed and dangerous suspect.

Just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday, a deputy from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station received an ALPR camera system alert that the stolen Yukon was in the area of Jamacha Road and Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley, authorities said.

The deputy found the Yukon parked at a convenience store in the 1000 block of Elkelton Road, contacted a woman who matched the suspect's description at the Yukon's driver's side door, and took Oralia Covernali, 43, into custody, authorities said.

"Covernali was detained without incident. She was found to have a lengthy criminal history and an outstanding felony warrant for her arrest," Snodgrass said.

Covernali was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, robbery, and the felony warrant, taken to the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee, where she was booked. She was scheduled to be awaiting arraigned in El Cajon Superior Court Wednesday while being held without bail.

No injuries were reported.

— City News Service