Sonora Carjacking Suspect Arrested

SONORA (CBS13) — The man suspected in a Sonora carjacking on Monday tried again on Tuesday, but the victim gave police a description and he was later arrested.

The Sonora Police Department responded to an attempted carjacking at the AM/PM mini mart on Pesce Way at about 4 p.m. Tuesday. The victim told officers that she was parked at the pumps preparing to pay for fuel when she was approached by a male subject. The subject reportedly told her, "This is a carjacking. Give me the keys to your car."

The victim said the suspect had a knife but dropped it. She stepped on it, but he pushed her away and then left, police said.

The victim was able to give officers a description of the suspect, which matched that of the carjacking suspect Monday night.

An officer spotted a man matching the description at about 5 p.m. on S. Washington Street, but when the officer attempted to contact the subject, he took off running and was last seen entering a yard of a residence on the 500 block of S. Washington St., police said.

Officers established a perimeter and located the subject hiding under a house.

The man was identified as Zakary Howerton, 21 of Sonora. Howerton had in his possession identification belonging to Monday's carjacking victim and the ignition key to her vehicle.

Howerton was arrested and transported to the Tuolumne County Jail where he was booked for felony carjacking and felony attempted carjacking. Howerton is also a suspect in a residential burglary that occurred earlier Tuesday in Sonora.