A 19-year-old man faces a Jan. 16 preliminary hearing on charges he kidnapped a young man during a carjacking in Pacific Beach.
Sklyer Jace Battreall appeared Dec. 6 before a San Diego Superior Court judge who set the hearing date. He waived his right to have a speedy hearing.
Battreall has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping during a carjacking, carjacking, and felony assault of a 21-year-old man in an Oct. 14 incident at 9 p.m. in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue.
The victim was sitting in his 2007 Hyundai Elantra when Battreall asked for a ride in Pacific Beach. The victim started to drive away, but the suspect pulled out a handgun and told him to stop.
Battreall is accused of pistol whipping the victim, knocking out some of his teeth, and inflicting great bodily injuries. The young man got out of the vehicle and Battreall allegedly drove off in the victim’s car.
However, Battreall crashed into a parked car in the 4600 block of Gresham Street. A police officer saw the crash and noticed a suspect running from the vehicle.
Police set up a perimeter and received assistance from a police helicopter. They located Battreall hiding in someone’s backyard around 9:45 p.m. He was arrested.
Court records say Battreall is on probation from Texas for fraudulent use of credit cards, auto theft, and grand theft. He remains in jail on $500,000 bail.