Toto's Pizzeria Carjacking Suspect Found Competent to Stand Trial

The man who allegedly carjacked a mother and child in the parking lot near Toto's Pizzeria in May and told them, has been found competent to stand trial.

The doctors appointed to examine Stephan Thomas Allen told San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Lisa Novak on Friday Allen was fit for trial, and the court in turn reinstated criminal proceedings and set a preliminary hearing date for Sept. 6.

Allen, 20, is in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail for the May 17 incident in which he allegedly approached the victim while she was sitting in her silver 2001 Honda Civic with her 5-year-old daughter in the back seat at about 9 p.m. that day.

The woman's husband was inside the restaurant, located at 1250 El Camino Real, picking up a pizza, according to prosecutors.

Allen allegedly entered the car through the unlocked passenger door and told the woman to drive. "Someone's out to kill me," he reportedly told her.

The woman pulled her keys out of the ignition, and Allen pushed her on the shoulder and ordered her out of the car, prosecutors said.

She told Allen he could have the car if she could take her daughter out. After the woman removed her daughter, Allen drove away in her car, according to prosecutors.

The woman ran into the pizzeria and called the police.

The then issued a countywide call to other law enforcement agencies, alerting them to the situation.

Allen was at about 2 a.m. May 18 sitting inside the Honda Civic while it was pulled over on the Broadway overpass of U.S. Highway 101 in Burlingame, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. The car had apparently run out of gas.

After a request to lower bail was denied, Allen's defense attorney expressed doubt whether his client could stand trial and the court agreed to suspend criminal proceedings while Allen’s competency was questioned.

Allen is due back in court on Sept. 6 for his preliminary hearing.