Suspect Who Eluded Massive Woodacre Manhunt Spotted Near Big Sur

By Bay City News Service

A 42-year-old man who is wanted across numerous counties for multiple crimes, including stealing cars and evading police, led authorities on a vehicle pursuit in the vicinity of Big Sur on Wednesday morning, according to Monterey County sheriff's deputies.

According to sheriff's deputies, the suspect, transient Dimitri Storm, may have been under the influence of alcohol and drugs at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday when he allegedly caused a disturbance at the Big Sur General Store and threatened to fight the clerk.

Storm left the store in a dirty gray Lexus GS350 four-door sedan, deputies said.

Deputies received reports of other disturbances Storm had made over the past few days and learned that he had multiple felony arrest warrants.

At about 12:40 p.m., sheriff's deputies spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle speeding northbound on state Highway 1, near the Big Sur River Inn.

The deputy attempted to catch up to the suspect vehicle, but it continued to travel at speeds above 100 mph.

The suspect vehicle traveled through a construction site near Andrew Molera State Park, almost striking construction workers and other vehicles on the roadway.

The vehicle came to a stop at the construction site near the road closure north of the Bixby Bridge, deputies said.

The suspect then steered the vehicle toward oncoming traffic twice and traveled through the construction site.

Deputies conducted a records check on the vehicle and determined it had been stolen from the Carmel area.

The vehicle continued onto Palo Colorado Road. Citizens later reported the vehicle unoccupied at the end of Garrapata Road, according to deputies.

Following an extensive search of the buildings, forest and vehicles in the area, the suspect was not located and the vehicle was collected for evidence, deputies said.

Storm is wanted in connection with numerous other crimes in the Bay Area.

On April 5, Storm stole a GMC Acadia SUV in Windsor and was tracked by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies to Petaluma, where deputies attempted to make contact with him.

Storm allegedly threatened the deputies, who tried to subdue him with a Taser but were unsuccessful. He then fled in the SUV into the Woodacre area of Marin County and was not found despite an hours-long search, deputies said.

A photo lineup shown to the deputies led to Storm being identified as the suspect, sheriff's Sgt. Michael Raasch said.

Evidence found inside a backpack in Woodacre during the search linked Storm to crimes in Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County, Raasch said.

Santa Cruz County sheriff's officials said crimes allegedly committed by Storm in their jurisdiction include auto burglaries in Ben Lomond between March 31 and April 2, as well as a recent robbery in the 3800 block of Chardonnay Road.

He is known to steal license plates and change the plates on a vehicle he has stolen, and may be targeting empty vacation rental houses for other crimes, according to sheriff's officials.

Storm is described as a white man with blond hair and blue eyes, standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Storm is asked to contact local authorities immediately.

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