Woman Fights Back Stopping Attempted Carjacking Suspect

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VISALIA, Calif. – A woman was nearly carjacked as she left her friend’s last Wednesday, police said.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at around 3:25 p.m., a woman was seated in her vehicle in the 2700 block of W. Dartmouth in the City of Visalia. The victim told police that the suspect, attempted to force his way into her vehicle, grabbing her keys and pushing her to the passenger side of the vehicle. As he pushed he told the victim that he was taking her car.

“The victim fought back and was able to get Justus out of her vehicle and he fled the area,” Visalia Police officials said. The suspect, Charles Justus, 38, was located in the area of Woodland and Dartmouth. Police learned that prior to the attempted carjacking, Justus had also forced entry into a home in the 2900 block of W. Harvard. “At this location he demanded money, keys and assaulted a 19 year old male,” Police officials said. “He was eventually forced out of the residence by the victim and fled.”

Justus was booked at the Tulare County Pre-Trial facility for attempted carjacking, attempted kidnapping, robbery, and burglary. There were no injuries to any involved parties.