Today's morning commute at Lemon Grove's Massachusetts Avenue trolley station took a sharp turn just before 8 AM, when deputies say a 30-year-old man tried to carjack a parked 2021 Dodge Ram with a passenger still inside. According to officials, the man climbed into the driver's seat, a brief struggle broke out, and the truck rolled forward before the suspect bolted. Deputies later tracked him down in a nearby driveway on the 1800 block of Lemon Grove Avenue and arrested him without incident. The passenger was not hurt.
What deputies say
According to a statement from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office and local coverage from KGTV, the victim was sitting in the passenger seat when the suspect - identified by deputies as 30-year-old Israel Sanchez - got in on the driver's side. Investigators say the victim tried to shove Sanchez out of the truck, but during the scuffle, Sanchez managed to knock the vehicle into drive before taking off on foot. Deputies searched the area and found Sanchez hiding in a driveway a short distance away, then took him into custody. He is expected to be booked into San Diego Central Jail while the investigation continues.
Massachusetts Avenue station and recent incidents
The Massachusetts Avenue Trolley Station, listed at 1787 San Altos Place, serves the Orange Line for MTS riders, according to station documents from San Diego MTS. The transit hub has seen trouble before. Investigators made arrests in March tied to an October 2025 robbery at the same station, as reported by the Times of San Diego.
Officials seek tips
Anyone who may have seen what happened or has information about the case is asked to call the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at 858-868-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477, per KGTV. Sheriff’s officials described the arrest as occurring without incident and confirmed that the passenger in the truck was not injured. Any formal charges will be determined by the district attorney after the sheriff's investigation wraps up.
