A 27-year-old Riverbank man was arrested earlier this month for carjacking a victim in the city.

A female victim pulled into a gas station around 2 a.m. in her vehicle to meet an acquaintance. Police said the male acquaintance then unexpectedly pulled her out of her vehicle by force and drove off with the vehicle. She contacted the police and some family members to make them aware of the situation. A family member spotted the woman’s car and made contact with the police department to provide that information. Authorities said luckily, there was an officer close by in the area so they were able to respond almost immediately to the scene.

Police said when the responding deputy pulled the suspect over, he began resisting arrest. It was then that Deputy Marcie Matos, also brought in to the case, released Sam the police dog and the K9 unit was successful in apprehending the suspect. The man was taken into custody and booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on suspicion of carjacking, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest, and theft of a vehicle.

The car was returned to the rightful owner.

Police said the suspect was released from custody on Tuesday, June 11.