Woman Hangs on During Carjacking

A woman was dragged several feet Saturday night as she clung to the door of her Chevy Impala while it was being hijacked, police said.

The woman was picking up her car from a valet after seeing a show next to the when a man—later identified as Wilfredo Villatoro—staggered up, pushed her away and plopped down in the driver's seat, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

"The suspect then proceeded to drive away northbound on Ocean Avenue after dragging the female victim a few feet as she tried holding onto the driver's side door," said police Sgt. Richard Lewis.

The driver was taken into custody about 45 minutes later after Los Angeles Police officers chased him through West Los Angeles starting near Santa Monica Boulevard and Butler Avenue. During the pursuit, Villatoro allegedly swiped and injured a motorcyclist.

At the end of the chase at La Cienega Boulevard and Hill Street, police said they searched Villatoro and found alleged methamphetamine.

He was arrested, and charged Tuesday with one count of carjacking, seven vehicle code violations and possession of methamphetamine. He is being held in lieu of $310,000 bail.

In 2008, Villatoro was found guilty of discharges a firearm at an unoccupied car or an uninhabited building and of making criminal threat.