Police Say Woman Found Bound And Gagged In Santa Ana Property Lied About Being Kidnapped
SANTA ANA (CBSLA) — A woman who was found bound and gagged in a vacant property in Santa Ana Tuesday claiming she had been kidnapped from a bike trail reportedly lied to police to avoid being arrested for squatting.
Santa Ana police responded to a city-owned property at the 300 block of Warner Avenue after maintenance crews who came to work on the property noticed a padlock on the door that was not there before and called the police.
When police arrived, they reportedly heard moaning and broke open the door. They found a woman in a bedroom who appeared to be tied up and beaten.
The woman described as being in her 30s reported she was kidnapped earlier in the day from a bike trail at the 1000 block of South Glassell Street in Orange.
Paramedics who treated the woman didn't find any signs of trauma.
Rosie the bloodhound was given a scent from inside of the house and tried tracking a suspect but didn't pick up on a scent.
After police began an investigation, they reported the woman had lied about being kidnapped to avoid being arrested for squatting.
Neighbors in the area say that the city has been buying homes along Warner Avenue for an expansion project and many homeless people have been moving into them.