Woman rescued after being kidnapped during carjacking in Boyle Heights

BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Police on Thursday rescued a kidnapped woman and arrested the man they say took her during a carjacking in the Boyle Heights area.

Investigators say the suspect approached a couple at Hollenbeck Park around 1 a.m., robbed them at gunpoint and forced them into their white Volkswagen Beetle. Police say the suspect forced the victims to call their friends -- another couple -- at the park.

"He drove around with that one couple in the neighborhood. He then directed them to a 7-Eleven at 4th and Cummings, at which point he asked them to contact the second couple, which they did," said LAPD Capt. Gary Lopez.

According to police, the second couple showed up thinking they were meeting up with their friends. Instead, they were also robbed by the suspect.

The suspect forced one of the female victims to drive the car, leaving behind her three friends. The three victims walked to the LAPD Hollenbeck Station to report the crime.

While they were at the station, the kidnapping victim called her friends via cellphone and told them her location. She said the suspect was demanding money for her release.

Officers were able to locate the stolen car at Chavez Avenue and Soto Street, where a pursuit started. The victim was still driving, and the suspect was seen throwing items out of the car. A weapon has not been recovered.

The car eventually ran out of gas about 50 miles later, near Cedar Avenue and the 10 Freeway in Bloomington. The 24-year-old suspect was taken into custody and faces robbery, carjacking and kidnapping charges.

The victim did not appear to be physically hurt. Police said there is no relationship between the suspect and his victims.