Man Charged in Carjacking at Simi Valley Target Store

A Simi Valley mother was the victim of a suspected carjacking Thursday evening as she sat in a local Target parking lot, police said.

Heidi Dinardo was in her pickup truck with two of her children, ages 7 and 9, when Michael Reyes, 26, of Simi Valley, allegedly pointed a gun at her and demanded she leave the vehicle, police said.

Dinardo was allowed to remove her children and dog from the vehicle, police said. A short while later, police spotted the truck on the 118 Freeway west of Rocky Peak Road. Reyes soon ran out of gas and began running on the shoulder of the freeway, according to police. He then jumped over a guardrail and ran down an embankment, police said. Police said Reyes was found hiding in a gully in thick brush. He was charged with carjacking and remains in custody.