Man Kidnaps Woman, Leads Police On Pursuit Through 2 Counties
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man was arrested early Thursday after robbing several people, kidnapping a woman and leading police on a high speed chase through two counties.
The suspect, a 24-year-old gang member, robbed a couple in Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights around 2 a.m. and then forced them to drive around a nearby neighborhood in the victims' car, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
According to investigators, the suspect stopped the vehicle at a 7-Eleven store and forced the couple to lure their friends over.
The suspect then robbed that couple.
"At that point, one female victim was directed to drive the vehicle, leaving three others at 7-Eleven," Capt. Gary Lopez said.
The victims alerted police before they received a call from the suspect demanding ransom money.
"It was that telephone call that allowed us to locate where she was at that point," Capt. Lopez added.
The unidentified suspect then forced the woman at gunpoint to drive, leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in Bloomington on the 10 Freeway in San Bernardino County.
The man was arrested and could face charges of robbery, kidnapping and carjacking, according to police.
Authorities said the victims, who did not know the suspect, waere not injured in the ordeal.
The LAPD plans to get surveillance video from a nearby 7-Eleven store later Thursday morning.
