Suspect in Parking Lot Carjacking Arrested

A man who police said of beat up a former friend in the parking lot of shopping center near the border of Murrieta and Wildomar, then took his car, was behind bars today.

The alleged assault occurred at about 11:57 p.m. Tuesday in the shopping center at 36000 Hidden Springs Road, where Stater Bros. is located, according to Wildomar police Sgt. David Cardoza.

Cardoza said the victim was sitting in his car when the acquaintance approached him and they exchanged words.

"...During the course of their interaction, the suspect began assaulting the victim, pushed him to the ground, and continued the assault. The suspect then produced a weapon, and fled the shopping center in the victim's vehicle," Cardoza said, in a news release.

The car's LoJack system was activated, resulting in the car being found abandoned at about 8 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Clinton Keith, Cardoza said.

Evidence found in the car then led officers to a residence in the 24000 block of Grand Avenue in Wildomar, he said.

The suspect in the carjacking, identified as Jason Reinhardt, 21, of Wildomar, was found at the Grand Avenue location, he said. Officers also allegedly found property from the car, burglary tools and counterfeit U.S. currency, he said.

Additionally, Cardoza said officers learned the homeowner, Nathan Guay, 35, was a parolee.

Guay was arrested on suspicion of possession of counterfeit money, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and violation of parole.

Reinhardt was arrested on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of stolen property.

Both were being held at Southwest Detention Center; Reinhardt in lieu of $150,000 bail and Guay without bail terms, sheriff's jail records indicated.

Anyone with further knowledge or information about the case was encouraged to contact the Wildomar Police Department at 951-245-3300.