Man Stabs Salesman, Escapes With Used Car

A man test-driving a used sports car with a car salesman stabbed and wounded him and escaped with the car, police said Thursday.

About 10 p.m. Wednesday, a man walked into the Toyota of Orange dealership in the 1400 block of Tustin Avenue and asked to test-drive a used Toyota, Police Sgt. Barry Weinstein said.

As the two were heading north on Cambridge Street, the man pulled off at East Grove Avenue and stopped the car. He then locked the car doors, pulled out a 6-inch knife and stabbed the car salesman in the face and left arm, police said.

“The victim struggled with the suspect and managed to get out of the vehicle, and the suspect drove off,” Weinstein said.

Neighbors heard the attack and called police when they saw the victim on the street. He was taken to a local hospital where he was in stable condition.

The victim, 38, whose name was not released, told police that the attacker had come to the dealership a week earlier inquiring about the same car, described as a 1995 MR2, two-door, emerald green, with a California license plate of 3KKS460, Weinstein said.

The carjacker is described as white, between 30 and 40 years old, 145 to 170 pounds with light-colored hair that is receding, police said. He was last seen carrying a leather backpack and wearing a dark jacket, a red flannel shirt and blue jeans.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call police at (714) 744-7403.