Carjacking Reported In Orinda Wednesday – Suspect Arrested After Bizarre Return Trip

FINAL UPDATE: Two detained near St. Stephens off-ramp after bizarre carjacking, pursuit.

ORIGINAL STORY:
A driver had his car stolen at gunpoint near Orinda Chevron Wednesday night, the victim approached by a young woman who brandished a pistol and ordered him out of his Mercedes E300 sedan.

No injuries were reported during the encounter, reported at approximately 6:30 p.m. After a brief detour into Lafayette, the car and driver were spotted and pursued westbound on Highway 24 in Oakland, where an Oakland police helicopter picked up the chase.

The suspect was initially described as a black woman, 20-25 years old, 5’5″-inches, medium build and armed with a “silver” or nickel-plated handgun.

UPDATE: In a bizarre turn of events, the suspect in this case reportedly drove to Oakland at high speed where she may have picked up a second person before returning east on Highway 24 to the St. Stephens off-ramp of Highway 24 where the car was eventually stopped and one person detained. It appears the fleeing Mercedes collided with another car in the eastbound bore of the Caldecott, although no serious injuries were reported. A search for a second suspect believed to be the woman carjacker is underway as this is written (7:33pm) and Highway 24 is reportedly being shut down to facilitate that search.

Aerial units are overhead, coordinating with searchers on the ground. An ambulance has been summoned to the scene and we believe the outstanding suspect has been detained after contact with a police dog.