San Diego police said carjacking suspect Everardo Deleon-Diaz was surprised by the sleeping victim in the back seat as he tried to steal a car
A man sleeping in the back seat of his car awoke to a stranger sitting in the driver’s seat who began punching him while trying to steal the vehicle, San Diego police said.
The bizarre attempted carjacking happened Saturday around 5:15 a.m. in the 1900 block of 6th Avenue in uptown San Diego’s Park West community.
The San Diego Police Department said a 62-year-old man was sleeping in the back seat of his parked 2001 Toyota Echo when Everardo Deleon-Diaz, 28, opened the unlocked driver’s side door and sat down in the car.
Police said Deleon-Diaz didn’t realize the owner of the car was sleeping in the back seat. When the owner awoke, Deleon-Diaz began punching him and demanding the car keys.
The victim was able to escape from the car and called 911. When officers arrived, they arrested Deleon-Diaz.
He was charged with attempted carjacking and booked into San Diego Central Jail. He’s scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
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The victim was treated for injuries to his face at the scene, police said.
No one else was injured in the incident. The case remains under investigation.
