Man Suspected of Carjacking Elsinore Motorist at Gunpoint Behind Bars

Man Suspected of Carjacking Elsinore Motorist at Gunpoint Behind Bars

by Contributing Editor

Felony charges are expected to be filed Thursday against a 25-year-old man suspected of carjacking a Lake Elsinore motorist at gunpoint.

Dominic Michael Melgoza of Oceanside was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of carjacking, with bail set at $60,000.

According to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Brad Foster, about 10 p.m. Monday, a man was parked in the 31000 block of Riverside Drive, near Lakeshore Drive, when the suspect allegedly approached him and leveled a black handgun at him, ordering the driver to relinquish the keys to his car, which he did.

“The victim fled his vehicle, and the suspect drove westbound on Riverside,” Foster said. “The victim immediately called 911.”

According to the sergeant, patrol deputies swarmed the area but were not immediately able to find the vehicle. However, about three hours later, a patrolman passing the intersection of Riverside and Lincoln Street spotted the victim’s car going west on Riverside.

Backup deputies were summoned, and moments later, Melgoza was directed to pull over. He complied, stopping next to Lakeside High School, Foster said.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident. A search of the vehicle did not turn up the firearm allegedly used in the carjacking, according to Foster.

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All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com