Greenville police ID suspect in Friday carjacking who threw live snake at victim

Greenville police say a 29-year-old woman was arrested following a carjacking and reckless driving incident downtown on Friday night. 

Hilmary Moreno-Berrios, 29, of Greenville allegedly carjacked a woman around 8:20 p.m. at an apartment complex off of Pelham Road. During the incident, Moreno-Berrios swatted at the victim with wooden sticks and then threw a live, black snake at her in an attempt to get her car keys, police said. 

Police later released the snake into the woods near the apartment complex. 

Moreno-Berrios was arraigned Monday morning and was in custody at the Greenville County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond, police said. 

Moreno-Berrios then took the victim's silver 2005 Honda CR-V and was next spotted driving on South Main Street. Police said she drove through event barriers set up near Falls Park Drive and South Main Street for the Liberty Bridge Jump-Off pole vaulting event scheduled for Saturday. 

About $17,225 worth of equipment was damaged, according to warrants. 

Moreno-Berrios continued down Broad Street and turned left onto Spring Street as police followed the vehicle. She wrecked with another vehicle at that intersection and then fled the vehicle on foot toward a nearby church, police said. 

She was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit and later transported to an area medical facility with shoulder pain, police said. 

Moreno-Berrios was charged with carjacking and malicious damage to personal property, according to warrants. Police said she also received five citations. 

Haley Walters covers crime and breaking news. Email her at hwalters@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @_haleywalters