Santa Cruz’s Most Wanted Spotted in Big Sur

Led Officer on high Speed Chase On Highway 1

BIG SUR—The California Highway Patrol spotted Santa Cruz’s most wanted, 42-year-old Dimitri Storm, in Bur Sur.  Storm is wanted in Santa Cruz for a crime spree beginning March 31 to April 2 that stretched from Ben Lomond to Soquel.

Dimitri Storm, 42

Storm led the CHP on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen gray Lexus on Highway 1 before he got away in the mountain region of Big Sur.  The Monterey County Sheriff Department assisted in establishing a perimeter of the Big Sur area.

Storm has been on the run since the incident in Santa Cruz on Chardonnay Road.  Santa Cruz County Investigators have been working with Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department developing leads on the whereabouts of Storm.

Storm, Unshaven

He was contacted by Sonoma County Deputies while driving a 1997 light blue Ford Explorer that he had stolen from a house on Hall Ranch Road.  This was the same Ford Explorer that was taken in Santa Cruz.  While the two deputies attempted to arrest him he resisted and threatened to kill them with the gun that he had.  Storm was able to get away in the Ford Explorer.

The Explorer was later found abandoned and there was no sign of Storm.  He appeared later that night and was able to get his hands on a 2009 Blue Toyota Highlander with California License plate 6JWB746.

“The suspect is known to steal other license plates and change them onto the stolen vehicles,” Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Deputy April Skalland said. “Investigators have information that Storm has shaved his beard and changed his appearance.”

While processing the Ford Explorer for evidence investigators found rental property magazines from the Santa Cruz area.  Investigators believe that he was targeting vacation rental homes in that area.

If you have information regarding the whereabouts of Storm or additional information as it relates to any of the burglaries or robbery, contact the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office at 831-471-1121.