A 39-year-old Santa Cruz man, Omar Raud Looney, is currently in custody after being arrested for allegedly hijacking a citizen’s pickup truck and leading police on a chase into San Mateo County. Looney is facing multiple charges, including felony vehicle theft, misdemeanor evading police, stolen vehicle possession, criminal threats, resisting arrest, and DUI.
The incident unfolded on Saturday when the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Cruz unit received a call about a pedestrian in the roadway near Davenport. Simultaneously, a community member driving in the area encountered the pedestrian. As CHP officers arrived at the scene, the pedestrian swiftly jumped into the community member’s vehicle and fled in their pickup truck, prompting the officers to initiate a pursuit.
During the chase, the driver recklessly evaded the pursuing officers, heading north into San Mateo County. The pursuit came to an end with the assistance of a tire spike strip deployed by Sheriff’s Office deputies. CHP K9 Officer Rae played a crucial role in apprehending the driver, serving as a visual deterrent.
Officer Israel Murillo, spokesperson for the CHP, declined to disclose the driver’s identity, citing an ongoing investigation. As of Monday afternoon, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office had not filed any related criminal charges.
1 Response
Wow, what a crazy story! I can’t believe someone would go to such lengths to evade the police. This definitely needs more attention. I would be happy to share this post on my social media accounts to help spread the word. Let’s make sure people know about this incident and stay vigilant.