Suspect Accused of a Double Take
Less than 24 hours after escaping from custody on a car-theft charge, a Northridge woman was arrested Saturday--for allegedly trying to steal a car, authorities said.
Los Angeles police in the northeast San Fernando Valley had arrested Anita Crystal Garcia, 25, on Wednesday on suspicion of car theft, said Sheriff’s Deputy Hal Grant.
On Friday, Garcia was arraigned in Van Nuys Municipal Court on the auto theft charge, Grant said. But, as deputies that evening were leading her to a bus outside the courthouse for the ride to Sybil Brand Institute, the downtown women’s jail, Garcia bolted from the deputies, scaled a fence and fled to freedom, Grant said.
About 20 hours later, Los Angeles police received a call about an attempted car theft at a car wash at Devonshire Street and Balboa Boulevard in Northridge, Police Officer Michael Hall said.
Officer Shoukri Ephnasios arrived at the car wash and found Garcia hiding in an adjacent parking lot, Hall said.
Garcia tried to twist away from the officer but was unsuccessful, Hall said. Then she gave a phony name. But Ephnasios found on Garcia a booking slip from the last time she was arrested revealing her identity and the auto theft charge, Hall said.
Garcia was arrested on suspicion of escape and attempted car theft, Hall said.
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