Suspect Hijacks Postal Truck With the Mailman
A suspected gang member running from a car crash Thursday kidnapped a mailman and hijacked his Postal Service truck, racing through South Los Angeles before a passerby grabbed him as he was about to dump the postman, authorities said.
The suspect was arrested and booked for investigation of carjacking, LAPD Officer Mike Partain said. “The mailman is OK,” he added.
The incident began about 11:50 a.m. with a car crash at Florence Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard, police said. Four passengers in one of the vehicles began fighting with people in the other car, and “apparently there was a display of weapons,” Partain said. “I guess they decided they better get out of Dodge and they fled on foot.”
One of the suspects commandeered a mail truck with the postman on board and drove off, stopping eight blocks away at 79th Street and Van Ness Avenue, Partain said. Apparently the suspect was about to force the postman from the vehicle when a witness “apprehended [him] . . . and held him for police,” Partain said.
No injuries were reported.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
