Girl, baby niece escape carjacking at knife point

A 16-year-old girl was able to escape with her 6-month-old niece Tuesday after a man ordered her out of a parked Nissan at knife point, police said.

The 40-year-old man, who police did not immediately identify, led Glendale police on a brief pursuit that included a jaunt on the Golden State (5) Freeway after he hopped into the Nissan Quest in the 1700 block of West Glenoaks Boulevard and took off.

He was arrested after patrol officers, with the assistance of a police helicopter, were able to track him down and pull him over.

The girl and baby escaped unharmed, said police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

The carjacking occurred shortly before 1:40 p.m. and was immediately called in by a bystander who witnessed the scene unfold, Lorenz said.

The alleged carjacker approached the girl while she was waiting in car, brandished a knife, grabbed her purse and ordered her out, police said.

She was able to grab the baby before he got in and took off, Lorenz added.

The purse was later recovered by police officers after he was arrested.

-- Veronica Rocha, Times Community News

Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA