Cops Say They're Closing in on Suspect Who Eluded Massive Woodacre Manhunt

Santa Cruz Sheriff's deputies said they are zeroing in on Dimitri Storm, the man who has been wreaking havoc across the Bay Area in recent weeks and who escaped a massive manhunt in the Woodacre area last Friday.

Storm was spotted at 7 p.m. Wednesday night in Boulder Creek area of Santa Cruz County near a golf course, and reports of sightings keep trickling in, Sheriff's Deputy April Skalland said. 

Skalland advised residents of Boulder Creek and the surrounding area that anyone who sees storm should call 911 immediately and should not approach him, as he is considered armed and dangerous, according to Skalland.

There have been several auto burglaries reported in Boulder Creek in the last day and Skalland said Storm is likely the culprit.

"Don't leave your keys visible, lock your car, take all valuable out and keep an eye on your license plate," Skalland said.

Storm has a habit of stealing license plates, then stealing cars and switching the plates to keep the cars disguised. Skalland said Storm is suspected of stealing two vehicles in the area in recent days, a 2013 Audi QS Quarto Black, stolen from Boulder Creek in the past day with a Black and White “Junior Lifeguards” sticker on the rear bumper, and a 2011 Kia Sol Green stolen from the Felton area in the last day.

"We're a step behind him so people need to notify us immediately if they see him," Skalland said. "He's armed and dangerous and a super bad person."

Storm is also known to target vacation rentals and vacant houses, authorities said.

According to Boulder Creek Insider, Storm was seen in a blue SUV on Wednesday. Skalland said it's unclear what vehicle he is in now.

Storm has been identified as the suspect who stole a GMC Acadia in Windsor on Friday and was tracked by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies to Petaluma, where the deputies tried to contact him.

Storm allegedly threatened the deputies and told them he was armed. They tried to subdue him with a Taser but were unsuccessful, according to Marin County Sheriff's Lt. Keith Boyd. He then fled in the SUV into the Woodacre area of Marin County and was not found despite a massive manhunt, a search that involved dozens of law enforcement officers and spanned nearly nine hours, was called off late Friday afternoon, according to the Boyd.

Boyd said the decision was made to end the search due to the amount of time that had passed since the last sighting of the suspect, the lengthy nature of the search and the rugged terrain of the area.

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