People v. Huggins CA2/6

FACTS

Nicole Albillar arrived at work and locked her Lexus automobile. Huggins broke into that vehicle. He removed the panel under the steering wheel. The car alarm went off. Albillar heard the alarm. She went to the vehicle and told Huggins to get out

1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated. of her car. He responded, “I need your car. It’s an emergency.” Albillar had never seen Huggins before. She began yelling and screaming. Huggins got out of the car. Albillar got into her vehicle and closed the door. Huggins went to the passenger door of the vehicle and tried to open it. He was unable to get in. He told her, “You’re gonna take me somewhere.” Another man drove up in a Volvo. Huggins got in that car “nonchalantly” and told the driver, “[W]e got to get outta here.” As they drove off, Albillar saw the license plate of the Volvo and called the police. Police Officer Jared Battles saw the Volvo. He “activated [his] overhead red lights” and stopped the vehicle. Huggins disobeyed Battles’s repeated commands that he place his hands on the dashboard. Huggins placed his hands on his lap. Battles reached into the car to see whether Huggins was holding a…