Transient Faces 19 Criminal Counts in Crime Spree

A homeless man was charged with kidnapping, carjacking and other offenses Wednesday in connection with a 45-minute crime spree that began in Pacific Palisades and ended in Malibu.

Brian Thomas Cruz, 44, faces 19 counts, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. His arraignment was expected Thursday at the Airport Courthouse.

Cruz allegedly broke in a woman’s apartment in Pacific Palisades on Monday morning and, armed with a box cutter, forced her to drive him en route to the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Police Department officials had said.

In fear for her life, the woman purposefully crashed her car near Palisades Charter High School. Cruz allegedly then carjacked a teacher at the school, crashing into several other vehicles.

Abandoning the second car