Two allegedly attack man with screwdriver during failed attempt;
accost woman at Rosanna Street home, steal vehicle and crash in
alleyway
Gilroy – Two men were arrested early Friday morning on numerous felony charges after they attempted to stab one victim with a screwdriver during an attempted carjacking, then robbed a second about an hour later while hijacking her car, police said.
Morgan Hill resident Joey Spille, 20, and Gilroy resident Jermaine Cecena, 19 were arrested after an officer spotted Spille driving the stolen Oldsmobile Cutlass and pursued it until Spille lost control and crashed into a fence at Fifth and Eigleberry streets, police said. Cecena sustained minor scrapes in the accident.
The carjacking is the first in Gilroy since May of 2004.
“These suspects were taking a very aggressive stance in committing this crime,” said Gilroy Police Sgt. Kurt Svardal. “Spille was the one that was trying to stab the driver. He seemed to be the more aggressive of the two.”
The unusual string of events began about 11:15pm, as both men were standing near the intersection of Church Street and Farrell Avenue when they flagged down a Toyota Corolla driven by a 20-year-old Gilroy man carrying a Gilroy teen.
“Once they stopped, (Spille) tried to pull (the driver) out and tried to stab him with a screwdriver,” Svardal said. The juvenile ran off to get help, as Cecena tried to start the Corolla, however, the car failed to start and the two suspects ran from the scene.
According to a witness who asked to remain anonymous, the incident began even earlier Thursday night as three men were throwing rocks at a van parked in the neighborhood.
“I was sleeping and I heard smashing noises,” he said. “I saw it all happen from my window … The car was just passing through the neighborhood and almost hit one of the guys standing in the street. So he threw a rock at his car. The guy got offended and backed up, and rolled down his window. Then they grabbed him and tried to pull him out and started beating him up. I heard grinding gears and it started to move.”
The witness said the incident does not reflect the safety of the neighborhood.
“Normally it’s a quiet neighborhood,” he said. “It was just wrong place at the wrong time.”
The victim was not injured in the attack, however, the trouble didn’t end there.
About an hour after the attempted carjacking, Cecena and Spille approached a 49-year-old female who had just returned home from work and parked her Oldsmobile Cutlass on the 7500 block of Rosanna Street.
“Spille approached her holding what (she) believes to be a knife,” Svardal explained. “She was afraid and handed him her keys.”
According to police, Cecena then grabbed her purse and the two took off with her vehicle and purse.
Cpl. Jim Callahan, who was patrolling nearby, located the car about two minutes after the victim notified police. He spotted the car driving without its headlights. When he tried to pull the driver over, the car accelerated down Third Street to Eigleberry Street, where Spille lost control turning into an alleyway at Fifth Street.
Cecena suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Neighbors on the 7500 block of Rosanna Street were concerned upon hearing the news about their normally quiet neighborhood and are hoping police will bump up patrols in the area.
“I’ve lived here eight, nine years with no problems,” said Celia Heredia of 7537 Rosanna St. “Normally it’s pretty quiet, it’s safe.”
Dalicia Villafuerte believes the street needs more lights.
“If I go out at night, I go with my boyfriend,” she said. “It’s kind of dark on this street.”
Spille was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, possession of a concealed weapon, evading arrest, driving under the influence with injuries, attempted carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and strong arm robbery.
Cecena was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, attempted carjacking and strong arm robbery.
None of the victims reported being injured. Both Spille and Cecena were identified by the victims as the suspects involved in the crimes. They were later booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
Despite the two incidents late Thursday night and early Friday morning, carjackings are not a common occurrence, police said.
“It’s almost like an armed robbery … the elements are very, very similar,” Svardal said. “When it comes to robberies the penalties are pretty severe.”
