UPDATE: Dimitri Storm Search Shifts to Carmel Area After Jeep is Stolen

By Bay City News Service

The search for fugitive Dimitri Storm continued in the Carmel Heights area south of Carmel this morning when a resident reported a suspicious gray Jeep Grand Cherokee, Monterey County sheriff's Cmdr. Lisa Nash said.

The Jeep had been stolen about 10 miles away in the Palo Colorado Canyon area where Storm was last seen Wednesday in a gray Lexus GS 350 that was stolen in the Carmel area, Nash said.

Storm had eluded sheriff's deputies Wednesday by driving the Lexus through a construction zone at the north end of Bixby Bridge. The Lexus was found on Garrapata Road, but Storm eluded capture after an extensive search of buildings, vehicles and forest, the sheriff's office said.

It's believed Storm then stole the Jeep, Nash said.

At around 10 p.m. Wednesday, deputies spotted the Jeep Cherokee traveling west on Palo Colorado Road. The driver looked away from the deputies as they passed him and almost collided with them head-on, Nash said.

The driver continued on to state Highway 1 and drove north at a high rate of speed. Deputies were unable to locate the Jeep.

Storm, 42, is wanted on a variety of offenses including vehicle theft, robbery, burglary and and by Calistoga police.

He is known to steal and switch license plates on vehicles and has been in possession of firearms, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said.

Storm is described as 5 feet 10 inches and 180 pounds. He has blue eyes and blond hair.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office is encouraging residents in the Carmel Heights area to check their vehicles and report any suspicious circumstances to the sheriff's office at (831) 755-3722.

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