Pedro Peralez
MENIFEE — A carjacker who allegedly fled in a vehicle with a child was arrested shortly after the incident.
On January 8, 2016, about 1:55 PM, Menifee Patrol and Special Enforcement Team deputies received a call regarding a carjacking incident. When officers responded to the incidents in the parking lot of Circle K, located at the 28000 block of Goetz Road, Menifee, the victim explained that her 8-year-old child was in the truck at the time of the theft.
The victim had attempted to stop the suspect, pleading that her child was inside and trying to open the passenger side door. The suspect reportedly ignored her, speeding away in the truck and causing the victim to stumble and fall onto the parking lot blacktop.
The child was only gone briefly. Deputies arrived in the area within minutes and by this time the child had returned to the Circle K, reporting that the suspect had let the child out at an open field on Avenida Robles.
According to Sergeant Sam Morovich in a press release, witnesses were able to lead deputies to the stolen truck, which had been abandoned near the intersection of Paseo Vivora and Avenida Gaviota.
Police then created a perimeter to search and the suspect, 58-year-old Pedro Peralez of Quail Valley, was located at a nearby residence. Peralez made an attempt to flee upon discovery, but was quickly apprehended by deputies without incident, and was later booked at the Southwest Detention Center for carjacking and kidnapping.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Deputy Pulido at the Menifee Sheriff Station at (951) 210-1000.
