This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Good Samaritans rescued a mother and her child from a carjacker, and one of them caught the whole thing on video.
The woman and child were in her minivan in front of a market in the City Heights area of San Diego on Sunday when a man allegedly got in the van and drove off with both of them inside. The van hit a pole, and bystanders who heard the woman and child screaming responded,Fox 5 San Diego reports.
They dragged Ismael Hernandez, 21, out of the vehicle and wrestled him to the ground as he tried to escape. It is from this point that bystander Aaron Leaf was able to record the entire event, which he has since posted on YouTube. One of the men advised Hernandez, who is seen bleeding from the face, to "stay your ass down." An officer arrives shortly and the men aid the office in handcuffing Hernandez.
The suspect seems to brag in front of the police and the men that this isn't even his first time, then asks them, at one point, why they are all "tripping."
It appears, however, that it may have been Hernandez who was tripping. Hernandez has been arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking, kidnapping, vehicle left, DUI and being under the influence of a controlled substance.
The woman and child were uninjured.
Here's the entire nine-minute video:
