Actress Carly Pope hurt in Vancouver carjacking: reports

VANCOUVER – Vancouver actress Carly Pope, known for appearances on TV series such as 24 and Popular, was injured in a bizarre carjacking attempt in downtown Vancouver Tuesday, the internet gossip website TMZ.com reports.

Citing law enforcement sources, the website says Pope was in the car when a man jumped onto the hood. When Pope’s brother got out of the car to address the situation, TMZ says, the man jumped in with the actress still inside.

The suspect allegedly hit three cars before crashing the vehicle into the CBC’s new downtown studios.

Vancouver police Const. Anne Longley would not confirm Pope and her brother Kris were driving the BMW before the carjacking, saying victims’ names are not typically released by police.

However, she did say that various international media outlets have been phoning Vancouver police about the carjacking and its possible link to Hollywood.

The driver and his sister had no previous dealings with the suspect, Longley said.

Both the car’s 31-year-old driver and his sister, the 29-year-old female passenger, were treated in hospital for relatively minor injuries and have now been released.

A 24-year-old male bystander, who tried to stop the suspect from taking the car, was also treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and released.

Former Alberta resident, David Fomradas, 31, was charged Wednesday with eight offences in connection with Tuesday’s carjacking, police said. He’s charged with theft over $5,000, kidnapping without the use of a firearm, two charges of aggravated assault, two charges of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and mischief to property over $5,000.

From 1999 to 2001, Pope played Sam McPherson, an unpopular student who edited the high school paper, in the TV high school drama, Popular.

Since then, Pope has earned roles in a handful of movies and television shows – perhaps most notably playing Samantha Roth in Season 7 of the hit TV series, 24.

Meanwhile, police released more details about the incident Wednesday, based on witness reports. They say a black BMW, being driven by a 31-year-old man with his 29-year-old sister in the passenger seat, was stopped at a downtown light when a stranger ran up to their car yelling and screaming.

The man jumped on the hood of their car and continued yelling. A witness got out of her car and called 911. The suspect then jumped off their car and walked away.

The BMW quickly pulled around the corner and the driver got out to exchange his information with the witness. The carjacker then ran back to the car and jumped into the driver’s seat, rapidly reversed with the female passenger still in the car and struck five cars before colliding with the CBC building.

The driver of the BMW and a 24-year-old bystander both tried to stop the man from taking the car and were injured when the car sped away. The bystander has also been treated and released from hospital.

Witnesses restrained the suspect until police arrived.