Gainesville Police bodycam captures armed carjacker’s arrest

Two people are being held in the Hall County Jail after police say they tried to carjack a taxi driver at gunpoint.

Abraham Santiago, 31, and Ana Maria Calderilla-Linares, 38, were arrested after the taxi picked them up and drove them to the 1000 block of Dawsonville Highway on February 29th at around 6 a.m.

Gainesville Police say Santiago allegedly pulled a gun on the driver, who was able to run away on foot.

“Moments later, police encountered the armed duo and arrested both,” a police department news release states. “During the arrest, Santiago resisted officers before being taken into custody.”

Police say they found a stolen gun on Santiago’s ankle and another stolen gun at the scene.

The Gainesville Police Department released edited bodycam footage of the arrest. The video shows a scuffle break out between Santiago and one of the arresting officers. The suspect appears to try to get away, but police hold him back.

The video then cuts to a scene showing police handcuffing Santiago on the ground.

The bodycam footage also shows the moment officers discover Santiago is carrying a gun strapped to his ankle.

“It’s a gun. We got a gun,” an officer shouts.

In the clip that follows, one of the policemen points to a holster on Santiago’s ankle while, in the background, you can hear an off-camera officer give instructions to “check the backseat.”

Police charged Santiago with hijacking, drug and weapons charges, and resisting arrest. Calderilla-Linares was charged with theft by receiving stolen property, drug and weapons charges, and giving convicts items without consent.

Both suspects were booked at the Hall County Jail, where Santiago is being held without bond. The bond for Calderilla-Linares was set at $11,800.