Manhunt ongoing for man who drove off Malibu Canyon Rd.

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Authorities were still searching for a motorist who drove a stolen car off Malibu Canyon Road near Malibu Presbyterian Church as of 7:30 p.m. Friday evening. The motorist is described by sheriff’s deputies as a 44-year-old African American male wearing a blue shirt. It is unknown whether the man, who deputies said is a Malibu resident, is armed.

Lt. Josh Thai of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said that at approximately 1:45 p.m. a sheriff’s vehicle with an automated license plate recognition system (ALPR) identified a gray Chrysler minivan driving in front of it on Malibu Canyon Road as stolen. The driver of the minivan then pulled over onto the side of the road near Malibu Presbyterian Church, and deputies began to communicate with the driver and his passenger. Thai said the driver appeared to argue with a female passenger, before started the car again and rolling it off the side of the hill. The female passenger was able to jump out of the car before it rolled off the hill, and she is now in custody.

“There was no chase, he pulled over, and that’s when he just kind of went crazy and drove off the road,” Thai said.

A car rental agency listed the minivan as a stolen vehicle on April 13 after it was not returned, Thai said. The Malibu search and rescue team is still searching for the man, but other deputies are being taken off the search. The search and rescue team is comprised of volunteers and reserve deputies who are trained in searches any time a vehicle goes over a cliff or a canyon.

Malibu Canyon Road is reopened for traffic after being closed down from approximately 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Malibu City Hall also reopened after originally locking down when the search began. The latest is that a scent dog has been brought in and is currently evaluating.