Seven people, including four juveniles, were arrested after an
attempted carjacking at the Target store on Cochrane Road,
according to Morgan Hill police Cpl. Ray Ramos.
Seven people, including four juveniles, were arrested after an attempted carjacking at the Target store on Cochrane Road, according to Morgan Hill police Cpl. Ray Ramos.
A woman who was loading groceries at the Target about 5:30 p.m. Thursday reportedly foiled the attempted carjacking when she sounded the alarm of her Toyota Camry and yelled for help.
Angelique Zavala, 19, and a 16-year-old boy threatened her before being scared away, police said. Zavala and the teen jumped into a car occupied by five other people. They were all arrested for various charges.
The 16-year-old was taken to juvenile hall on suspicion of attempted carjacking and possession of stolen property. Angelique Zavala, 19, of San Jose, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of attempted carjacking, child endangerment and possession of stolen property. Angelina Quintanta, 19, of San Jose, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a carjacking and child endangerment.
Luz Diaz, 21, of San Jose, was released pending charges. Three juveniles were cited and released to their parents for alleged possession of stolen property.
According to Ramos, Zavala and the 16-year-old male approached Morgan Hill resident Veronica Hoyle as she was loading groceries. Zavala grabbed Hoyle by her left shoulder and with her other hand pretended to hold a weapon, police said. She demanded the keys to Hoyle’s vehicle, but Hoyle pressed the panic alarm on her key ring and yelled for help.
Zavala and the teen then jumped into a 1991 gold Toyota Camry which was parked nearby. It sped away with Quintanta driving, Ramos said, and as she was merging onto northbound U.S. 101, she crashed into another vehicle but did not stop.
Quintanta, Zavala, Diaz and the teenagers ditched the vehicle at Coyote Creek Golf Drive, and a witness reported seeing them running westbound toward the golf course.
Morgan Hill police, assisted by San Jose police, responded to the area as the witness followed the seven suspects northbound on Monterey Road. San Jose police closed down northbound Monterey Road, and officers stopped the suspects, arrested them and took them back to Morgan Hill for booking.
