Two teens rescued off cliff, then arrested in reported carjacking

Two youths arrested after allegedly carjacking a sport utility vehicle and then losing control of it.

By The Associated Press

Two youths were rescued from a cliff and arrested Wednesday after allegedly carjacking a vehicle and then losing control of it and plunging off a winding mountain road.

A third teenager also was later apprehended.

Two of the youths were 16 and one was a 13-year-old boy, said Esther Reyes, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. They were arrested for investigation of kidnapping and grand theft auto, she said.

The incident began about 6 a.m. in North Hollywood when a man's sport utility vehicle was commandeered by carjackers, said Sgt. Don Bee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The victim was driven away and dropped off in Angeles National Forest near Tujunga. He reported the carjacking from a ranger station, Bee said.

The vehicle crashed about 7:20 a.m. off Big Tujunga Canyon Road.

Two of the youths were left stranded on a cliff, Bee said. Rescuers had to drop a line from a hovering helicopter to rescue at least one of them.

Firefighters helped sheriff's deputies rescue the boys and both were taken into custody by Los Angeles police officers, officials said. A search of the area turned up the third boy later.

Copyright 2004, DailyBreeze (Associated Press)