​Grandfather, Child Escape After Suspect Carjacks Vehicle, Leads Covina Police on Pursuit

PHOTO/Covina Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor

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COVINA - A convicted felon carjacked a grandfather and slammed into an innocent driver in San Dimas Tuesday after leading authorities on a pursuit.

Brian Edward Hardy, 36, is accused of taking an occupied vehicle by force around 9:30 a.m. November 12 from a parking lot at 1359 N. Grand Ave. A man and his 1-year-old grandchild were seated in the vehicle as it was taken, according to the Covina Police Department.

After taking the vehicle, the grandfather fought back, forced the transmission into park and escaped with his grandchild, Covina Police said.

Covina officers found hardy in the carjacked vehicle in San Dimas. Hardy allegedly attempted to charge officers as they approached.

A pursuit ensued through San Dimas and Covina, terminating with an injury crash at Valley Center Avenue and Covina Boulevard in San Dimas. Hardy was taken into custody; the innocent driver was hospitalized, Covina Police said.

Hardy is a sex registrant and career criminal with multiple prior felony convictions, Covina Police said, including sex acts with a child and weapons and narcotic offenses.

“[Hardy] violated his parole multiple times and was currently on PRCS (Post Release Community Supervision) at the time of this new offense,” Covina Police said in a written statement.

Hardy was booked on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and evading police -- all felony offenses.

Hardy is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse November 14.