A 34-year-old Dulzura man was behind bars Tusday for allegedly attempting to drive off in a car from an El Cajon dealership — with an employee inside — and running off after crashing it into two other cars.
The suspect — identified by police as Reginald Anthony Brown — walked onto the car lot on Lemon Avenue near West Washington Avenue and got into a vehicle for sale around 12:30 p.m. Monday, El Cajon Police Lt. Walt Miller said. An employee hopped into the passenger seat and told Brown to get out, but he instead started the car.
Brown allegedly crashed the car into two of the dealership’s other vehicles as he began to pull out of the lot, then jumped out and ran, according to the lieutenant.
A man who saw Brown being chased from the dealership stopped his vehicle and told him to get in. He headed to a nearby intersection and told Brown he was under citizen’s arrest, Miller said.
Responding officers spotted the driver outside his vehicle and Brown in the passenger seat shortly after. However, Brown allegedly refused to get out of the man’s vehicle, which prompted the officers to send in a police dog.
Miller said Brown was taken into custody after being bitten by the dog. He was treated at a hospital for the bite wound and was later booked into jail on suspicion of carjacking and vehicle theft, according to police and jail records.
—City News Service
