HIGHLAND — A 27-year-old homeless man is behind bars after police say he staged a carjacking in Highland on Sept. 2, using a fallen tree to trap a woman’s vehicle before stealing it at gunpoint.
Carjacking in Highland
According to the Town of Lloyd Police, the suspect, identified as Carlos D. Diaz, set up the fallen tree on Oak Crest Drive around 8:30 a.m. to block the road.
A Highland woman driving along the roadway was forced to stop. Police say Diaz then approached the car, threatened her with a firearm, and ordered her out of the vehicle. After forcing her from the driver’s seat, Diaz fled the area in the stolen car.
Pursuit Across Two Towns
Roughly 30 minutes later, the stolen vehicle was spotted in the City of Kingston and Town of Ulster. Officers attempted to stop Diaz, but he refused to pull over, sparking a police chase.
The pursuit ended near Ulster Avenue and Route 9W in the Town of Ulster, where Diaz was successfully stopped and taken into custody without further incident.
Charges and Court Appearance
Diaz has been charged with:
-
First-degree robbery
-
Second-degree grand larceny
-
Second-degree menacing
Following his arrest, Diaz was arraigned before Town of Lloyd Judge Rizzo, who ordered him held at Ulster County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. Diaz is scheduled to return to Town of Lloyd Court on Sept. 5.
Multi-Agency Response
The investigation and arrest involved several law enforcement agencies working together. Alongside the Town of Lloyd Police, assistance came from the Town of Ulster Police, New York State Police, Ulster County Sheriff’s Department, City of Kingston Police, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.
Leave a Reply