Drones, police dog help apprehend suspect in Dublin carjacking

Travis Byrd, 28, of Hayward, was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on charges of carjacking, kidnapping and resisting arrest. Travis Byrd, 28, of Hayward, was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on charges of carjacking, kidnapping and resisting arrest. Photo: Dublin Police Photo: Dublin Police Image 1 of / 28 Caption Close Drones, police dog help apprehend suspect in Dublin carjacking 1 / 28 Back to Gallery

A man who attacked and attempted to kidnap a woman at a Dublin gas station, and then fled in the victim’s car, was tracked to Oakland using the victim’s cell phone and captured using drones and a police dog, police said Sunday.

Travis Byrd, 28, of Hayward was arrested Saturday and booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on charges of carjacking, kidnapping and resisting arrest, said Dublin police Capt. Nate Schmidt.

The attacker jumped into the woman’s car at 6 a.m. Saturday while it was parked at the Chevron gas station at 7007 San Ramon Road in Dublin, Schmidt. He ordered the victim into the back seat, but she refused, and a struggle ensued as she attempted to get out of the car, Schmidt said.

Another woman at the gas station heard screaming and tried to intervene, allowing the victim to climb into the back and escape using the rear door. Byrd then drove off in her car, Schmidt said.

Police used the GPS signal on the victim’s cell phone to track the car to 83rd Avenue and A Street in Oakland, where officers said they confronted Byrd about an hour after the attack. He ran behind some houses and hid in a backyard, Schmidt said.

Officers with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Dublin police and Oakland police used drones to locate the suspect and then sent in a police dog.

“The dog apprehended him,” Schmidt said. “He had some minor injuries where he went to the hospital.”

Schmidt praised the victim and witness for their bravery in fighting off Byrd, who has a long criminal history, authorities said

“The good thing is the victim was not injured,” Schmidt said. “She was very brave for what she did, getting away from this person.”

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite