San Pablo police are searching for the carjacking suspect following a pursuit Thursday that resulted in the lockdowns of three schools.
The incident unfolded just before 9 a.m., when Belmont police pursued a vehicle that failed to yield while traveling northbound on Highway 101, police said.
The driver exited the vehicle on foot near Highway 92 and Hillsdale Boulevard and fled towards the Fiesta Meadows Park, where the suspect entered an occupied vehicle and held a knife to the driver’s stomach and forced her to drive to the San Mateo Medical Center. The suspect entered the hospital but then immediately left and headed northbound on Edison Street. The victim was later evaluated for her injuries and interviewed, police said.
Shortly thereafter, San Mateo police responded to the area of Fernwood Avenue and Hillsdale Blvd. on a report of a person matching the suspect’s description. That person asked for a ride before jumping into the creek between Hillsdale Blvd. and 36th Avenue, police said. Officers saw the person in the creek. The person fled deeper into the creek upon seeing the officers. While establishing a perimeter, Abbott Middle School, Hillsdale High and Laurel Elementary were placed on a “secure campus” status while the police search continued, but ultimately the suspect was not located and remains at large, police said.
Anyone with information or surveillance footage related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Kurt Rodenspiel at (650) 522-7662 or krodenspiel@cityofsanmateo.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or by calling (650) 522-7676.
