Full Notification

Rideshare driver carjacked at knifepoint in San Jose on Sunday, escapes in San Mateo after jumping from vehicle. Vehicle then stolen by suspect and recovered in Morgan Hill later that night. Suspect identified during investigation, but coincidentally returns to San Mateo this morning and turns himself in to officers. He was arrested on several on-view charges and booked into San Mateo County Jail for charges stemming from Sunday’s incident.
 
San Mateo, CA – On Sunday, July 16, 2022 at approximately 10:12pm, San Mateo Police officers responded to the area of Cypress Ave. and N. Humboldt St. on report of a hit and run. On arrival, officers met with a female rideshare driver, who claimed she picked up a male fare in San Jose. When they reached their destination in San Jose, the male ordered her to continue driving by holding a knife to her stomach. Ultimately, he instructed her to drive northbound on HWY 101 and exited in San Mateo. When she felt she had an opportunity to escape, the driver did so by jumping from the slowed vehicle. At which point, the suspect stole her car and fled the scene. The driver was uninjured, but at least two vehicles in the area sustained minor damage.
 
During the drive towards San Mateo the suspect made a 9-1-1 call. As part of the investigation, it was learned the 9-1-1 call was intercepted by Mountain View Police, who were able to provide a phone number utilized by the male. The caller stated someone was trying to kill him but was laughing so it sounded as if he was joking. A preliminary investigation determined the male was likely Randy Jay, who fit the description given by the victim and witnesses. Approximately two hours later, the victim’s vehicle was located in Morgan Hill. Security footage in the area where the vehicle was located depicted a male who also matched the description of Jay.
 
As our investigation continued, on Monday morning, July 18, 2022 at 6:14am, an SMPD officer was flagged down by a male subject, identified as Randy Jay. Jay told police he was a bad person and needed to go to jail. During this contact, Jay was found to be in possession of Fentanyl and had returned to San Mateo in an unreported stolen vehicle out of Turlock, CA. Jay admitted to detectives he was responsible for the carjacking incident from Sunday and the knife used was recovered. In addition to a citation for on-view charges for today’s incident, Jay was arrested on the charges stemming from the carjacking and was transported and booked into San Mateo County Jail.
 
ARRESTED:
Randy Jay, age 43, San Jose, CA.
 
CHARGES:
215(a) PC – Carjacking
207(a) PC – Kidnapping
245(a)(a) PC – Assault with a Deadly Weapon
422 PC – Criminal Threats
417(a)(1) PC – Exhibiting a Deadly Weapon