Pursuits, Stabbing Attempts Follow Teen Carjacking, Police Say

WATSONVILLE, CA — Two were arrested in connection with a Watsonville carjacking that resulted in two law enforcement pursuits and an attempted stabbing, police said.

Bryan D. Alfaro, 18, of Soledad and a 17-year-old girl were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of felony charges including carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon, police said. Alfaro remained in Santa Cruz County Jail as of Friday morning.

The girl, whose name was not released because she was a minor, drove the stolen car without a license. She was also arrested on suspicion of evading police, the department said in a statement.

The incident began Monday night, when the girl convinced a 19-year-old man to give her a ride. He drove his black Infiniti to a Penny Lane parking lot, where two men pulled a knife on him, beat him and attempted to stab him, police said.

The trio stole his car and the victim ran to a nearby business to get help. Watsonville police notified all Santa Cruz County law enforcement agencies to look for his car.

Deputies with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office spotted his car on Highway 1 in Soquel and tried to stop the driver, police said. The driver sped off and led officers on a high-speed pursuit into Santa Clara County, where California Highway Patrol officers took over and lost sight of the car near Palo Alto, police said.

The car was spotted again Tuesday afternoon in Watsonville by a detective with the Monterey County Multi-Agency Detail for Combating Auto Theft.

Police headed to the scene and tried to stop the car on the 1400 block of Freedom Boulevard. The 17-year-old girl, who was driving the car, sped off and crashed into a parked car less than a minute later.

Watsonville police detectives continued to investigate to identify the third person involved in the carjacking, police said.