For hours, a South San Jose neighborhood was the scene of intense police activity that started when Milpitas police spotted a suspect in a Dec. 7 carjacking and gave chase.
The suspect as driving a silver BMW that nearly careened into Janet Flores at the intersection of Capital Expressway and Seven Trees Boulevard.
"I see that car coming toward me and super fast," Flores said. "It was like super close to me, and then I turned and went into the donut shop. And then he (spun) three times and then his car got stuck, and then he got out and started running."
Police say Jarek Brown was armed with a handgun and fled into a residential area along with a possible second suspect. Dozens of San Jose officers descended onto the area, including members of the Merge Unit and tracking dogs.
"I saw the guy jump over the fence, went behind my neighbors house, didn't know he was hiding there," said witness Jose Yanez.
"I saw the guy jump over the fence, and then (he) went behind my house and my neighbor's house," said witness Jose Yanez. "I didn't know he was hiding in there."
Sang Hyun Lee says he came face to face with the carjacking suspect at his home on El Cajon Drive. Lee described how he was walking into the garage, hit the garage door opener and threw his keys when he saw Brown. Lee then went outside to warn police.
"When officers approached the house to see what was going on and to help this individual, the suspect came out of the garage in the victim's car," said Sgt. Jason Dwyer with the San Jose Police Department. "He carjacked another vehicle."
As the suspect drove away, he plowed into a parked police motorcycle. Neighbors watched the explosive getaway in disbelief.
"How did he get past these cops that were all around us?" questioned neighbor Jesus Martinez. "It's kind of sad to see. Once he came out of that house in the car, he shouldn't have gone past the next street. He should have had them right then and there."
Other neighbors say they are just grateful police did not open fire on the suspect or engage in a high-speed pursuit.
"A lot of innocent bystanders around," said neighbor Derek Robinson. "No one got hurt. Just be happy, be grateful."
Police say the suspect was last seen in the stolen Toyota Camry, but may have since ditched that vehicle and is considered armed and dangerous.
