Littleton Police are searching for Phillip Dent, 51, who is suspected in a brazen daylight carjacking in southwest Littleton on Jan. 28.
Dent is a white male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 165 pounds with short brown hair and green eyes.
Dent is accused of assaulting and carjacking a 63-year-old woman at the Atlantis Car Wash on Federal Boulevard just north of Berry Avenue on Jan. 28.
The woman told police she had just driven into the automatic car wash bay and placed her vehicle in park, which automatically unlocked the doors.
As soon as the wash cycle began and the windshield was obscured by soap, the suspect walked into the bay and opened the woman’s door.
In an attack caught on the car wash’s security camera, the suspect grabbed the victim’s arm and yelled for her to get out of the car. She resisted and attempted to fight off the suspect, who grabbed her by the neck, bit her, then pulled her from the vehicle and threw her to the ground before fleeing in her car.
The victim suffered minor injuries.
The stolen vehicle is a gray 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan with a South Dakota license plate, number 1×7015.
Dent’s last known address was in Parker, according to state records, although police believe he may be transient and in the Littleton or Lakewood areas.
Dent has a long criminal history, according to court records, including multiple DUI convictions and has two other open warrants.
Dent is wanted on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, robbery, motor vehicle theft and assault in the carjacking incident, according to court records.
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Tipsters can remain anonymous, and the line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The tip line is 720-913-7867.