On Thursday, September 16th, 2021, at 9:16 pm, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported carjacking that had just occurred at a residence in the 8400 block of W Main St, Turlock.

When deputies arrived on scene, they met with the victim who told them that while he was in his vehicle in his driveway at about 9:00 pm, a male about five feet nine inches tall, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with his face covered by the hood, approached him on foot and told him that he needed his vehicle. The victim then told deputies that he got out of his vehicle and was about to fight with the subject, when the subject brandished a handgun, pushed him out of the way, got into the vehicle, and drove off eastbound on W Main St.

About an hour later at 10:42 pm, the Keyes Fire Protection District was dispatched to a reported vehicle fire at the intersection of N Tully Rd and W Barnhart Rd, Turlock. When firefighters arrived on scene and gave dispatch the plate of the vehicle that was on fire, dispatch told them that the vehicle was just carjacked and that she would send deputies their way. Firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire and keep it contained to the vehicle.

Deputies responded to the scene of the fire and noticed shoe prints on the ground leading into the orchard just east of the intersection. Deputies were able to confirm that the shoe prints did not match those of any of the firefighters who were on scene. Deputies requested that the airship respond overhead and check the orchard just east of the intersection. When the airship arrived, they were unable to locate anyone.

Deputies recovered the burned vehicle and the investigation remains on-going.