Carjacking Suspect Sought

***UPDATE***

On Sunday, January 10, 2010, at around 12:20 p.m. a Van Nuys community member called the Los Angeles Police Department’s Communication Center to report that she saw man who resembled a suspect whom she had seen on the television news the night before.  LAPD Officers went to the location where the person reporting last saw the suspect, a Laundromat in the 6800 block of Lennox Avenue.   Officers found the man in the laundry mat dressed only in boxer shorts; his clothes were in a washing machine.  Officers were able to link a Black Ford Explorer parked in the parking lot to the suspect.  The vehicle had been taken in a carjacking the previous day in West Valley Area.  He was taken into custody without incident.The suspect has been identified as Tyreese Basey, a 31-year-old male Black whose last known address was in Los Angeles.  Basey is being booked into Van Nuys jail for various charges including Robbery and Carjacking.This was an extraordinary example of the community, the media, and the LAPD working together to take a violent and dangerous offender off the streets of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who victimized a number of innocent people and put the entire community at risk early this morning.

At around 5:15 a.m., a suspect attempted to steal a car that was parked on Calhoun Street.  He failed in that attempt.  Thirty minutes later at around 5:45 a.m. the same suspect carjacked a vehicle by simulating to a victim that he had a weapon in his waistband.  This occurred at a nearby donut shop located in the 13300 block of Victory Boulevard.  

Thirty-five minutes later at around 6:20 a.m. the suspect had a rollover single-car traffic accident at Sepulveda Boulevard and Skirball Center Drive; the car collided with a tree causing the airbag to deploy.  The suspect got out of the vehicle by climbing through the sunroof.  

At around 6:40 a.m., the suspect entered a residence in the 3300 block of Redrose Drive and demanded car keys from a 90-year-old couple.  The elderly couple managed to push the suspect away and lock the door.  Then at around 6:45 a.m., the suspect was seen in a rear yard at a house a short distance away.  That home owner chased the suspect away.

One hour and thirty minutes after that, and one-half mile away, at about 8:15 a.m., the same suspect stole a black Eddie Bauer version of a Ford Explorer, license plate 4WVP668.   

The suspect is described as a male black, black hair in dreadlocks or corn rows, 6’-6’1” in height, weighing 170-180 pounds, 30-35 years old. He was last seen wearing black pants, tan shirt and has a beard.  

Investigators believe that the suspect may have sustained some injuries from the rollover collision or airbag deployment.

Investigators believe that because the one-man crime spree was so unusual, there may have been some precipitating incident or personal crisis.  Captain Egan said, “He was not just a criminal, but a desperate and reckless criminal.”  Egan added, “If you witnessed anything unusual this morning or know of someone fitting this description with unexplained injuries, please come forward.”

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call West Valley Area Detectives at 818-374-7730.  During non-business hours or on weekends calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.