Police Investigate Abduction Of Woman In Germantown; $15K Reward Offered
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There is now a $15,000 reward offered in the search for Carlesha Freeland-Gaither.
The Fraternal Order of Police put an additional $5,000 Tuesday saying if an arrest is made today, they will pay up immediately.
Philadelphia Police have launched a full-scale investigation into the abduction on West Coulter Street in Germantown.
"Just let my daughter go. Whatever it takes, I don't care. Just let her go," father Carl Freeland said.
A distraught family has no idea where 22-year-old Carlesha Freeland-Gaither is.
Authorities say Freeland-Gaither was last seen around 10:00 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of West Coulter Street in Germantown.
It was there, police say, a witness spotted Freeland-Gaither yelling for help and being forced into a dark-colored sedan.
WATCH: Surveillance Video
"It was sickening and that's the only thing you can say. It looks like that he even knew that she was coming around that corner because he parked his car and then went back for her," aunt Latesha Tucker-Felder said.
"When they got in the back of the car, you heard like a tap tap pap pap, whatever it was, it was like two of them and then the back window came out," an eyewitness said.
Freeland-Gaither, according to police, kicked out the driver side rear window as the car drove off.
An eyewitness, who doesn't want to show his face, called 911. He had been walking the opposite side of the street when he heard her scream.
"'Help me, help me,' and I turned around and I just started running up," he said. "I called the cops as I'm like yo screaming stop, stop, stop. He's dragging her to the car."
He says her abductor had a large knife. Investigators say as she was forced into the car, her glasses and cell phone were dropped onto the road.
"We are going to pray for her to get the will, the strength and the courage to fight her way out," Tucker-Felder said.
Police say the car was last seen traveling west on Coulter Street towards Knox Street.
Freeland-Gaither is described as a black female, 5'3" tall, 125 pounds with brown eyes. Police say she has braided hair and has a tattoo on her lower back, and was last seen wearing a light blue jean jacket, a gray and white sweater, carrying a black backpack.
Philadelphia Police announced Monday evening that Mayor Michael Nutter has approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.
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The suspect is described by police as a black male, 5'10", medium-heavy build, 25-30 years-of-age, medium brown complexion, wearing a dark colored jacket with a dark colored hood possibly a hooded sweatshirt underneath, dark colored hat, and dark colored pants.
The vehicle is described by police as a 2000-2002 dark gray metallic four-door Ford Taurus with an unknown PA license, an unknown plate on the front bumper, rear spoiler, and both driver and passenger side rear windows broken out. Police say the vehicle is missing inspection stickers and has an unknown item in the center bottom of the front windshield.
Anyone with any information is urged to call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847 or visit phillypolice.com.
CBS 3 Eyewitness News reporter Diana Rocco contributed to this report.
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