Carjacking in Beverly Hills ends in crash that injured four people, including a child, near the Christmas tree lighting

BEVERLY HILLS, California. – A suspected car thief is handcuffed, but not before allegedly hitting a group of people near a Christmas tree lighting festival with the car he was accused of stealing in Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills Police responded to a call of a carjacking in the 400 block of North Bedford Drive just after 7 p.m. A woman told police at the scene that the suspect stole her BMW before leaving the scene.

Shortly thereafter, BHPD received a second 9-1-1 call near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive – a very short walk from the location of the Rodeo Drive Christmas lights celebration. Two men, a woman and a child had to be taken to hospital after the accident. Before police arrived, the suspected car thief fled the scene.

Police eventually arrested 22-year-old James Portul, the suspected car thief, after officers found him in the 200 block of South Beverly Drive. Portul is booked for carjacking and hit and run with injury, BHPD said.

Officials did not provide information on the conditions of the four people injured in the collision.