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CNN Live At Daybreak

Would-Be Carjacker gets Karate Chopped

Aired August 19, 2002 - 06:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Los Angeles, a guy picked the wrong vehicle to carjack in Hollywood.
Michael Brownlee of CNN affiliate KCBS has this priceless story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL BROWNLEE, KCBS-TV REPORTER (voice-over): The LAPD says this man messed with the wrong group of tourists. He attempted to carjack their rental van at a Mobil station on Santa Monica and Highland. Little did he know this group knew how to protect themselves. They are judo students from Florida International University.

NESTER BUSTILLO, INTENDED VICTIM: And we had this guy like in a pretzel on the ground because we were just holding him.

BROWNLEE: Minutes before, police say the suspect successfully carjacked a couple six blocks from here. He drove to the Mobil station, began harassing another couple when he made eye contact with Nester Bustillo.

BUSTILLO: Guy walks towards me, starts asking me for money and we get into a little bit of a struggle. He -- then he eventually winds up jumping and trying to take our car.

CHRISTINA BALDACCI, INTENDED VICTIM: We're trying to get the keys out of his hands, Vidi (ph) got him. The guys -- the boys are punching him in his face and I didn't -- you know I wanted to go around for a choke to choke him out, and -- but I didn't want to risk getting punched in the head so then I started pounding on him and -- from the back.

BROWNLEE: The group was in town this weekend teaching a self- defense course in Long Beach. They decided to take a tour of Hollywood before heading to LAX for their flight back to Florida. Now not only do they have a story to tell, but one with a happy ending, at least for them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's being booked for the carjacking charge on both counts, the attempt and the successful one. He's being booked on the kidnap for robbery purposes and kidnap for carjacking purposes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from Michael Brownlee of KCBS in Los Angeles. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com