Suspect Arrested After Attempted Carjacking At East County Trolley Station

LEMON GROVE, CA — A man was arrested Tuesday morning after authorities said he tried to carjack a pickup truck at the San Altos Trolley Station in Lemon Grove.

Deputies responded around 7:50 a.m. to the trolley station at 1787 San Altos Place after receiving a report of a carjacking, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said the victim was sitting in the passenger seat of a 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 when 30-year-old Israel Sanchez entered the driver's seat. The victim tried to push Sanchez out of the truck, and the two struggled inside the vehicle.

During the struggle, Sanchez shifted the truck into drive, causing it to roll forward before getting out and fleeing on foot, officials said.

Deputies established a perimeter and found Sanchez a short time later in a driveway in the 1800 block of Lemon Grove Avenue, where he was detained without incident. The victim identified Sanchez as the suspect, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

Sanchez was arrested on suspicion of carjacking. He was medically cleared for an unrelated matter before being booked into the San Diego Central Jail.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at 858-868-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.