WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police have arrested three men suspected of participating in a carjacking on Oct. 30.
Manuel Hernandez, 18, Joel Vasquez, 29, and Raul Leal, 23, face several felony charges. They were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. Hernandez is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail. Leal’s bail is $25,000 and Vazquez’s bail is $50,000, jail records showed.
According to WPD spokeswoman Michelle Pulido, the victim was vacuuming his vehicle at a car wash on the 900 block of Main Street when the suspects drove up in two separate vehicles and boxed him in.
One of the suspects, later identified as Hernandez, threatened to shoot the victim if he didn’t hand over his car keys. Fearing for his safety, the victim complied. Hernandez then fled in the victim’s vehicle.
Later that same night, WPD officers spotted two of the suspects near the scene of the carjacking. Hernandez and Vazquez were taken into custody. Officers were also able to recover the victim’s car.
On Wednesday, officers found Leal, who was driving the white pickup that boxed in the victim’s vehicle.
