RSSOf all the types of crime that happen on a regular basis in and around L.A., kidnapping is probably among the least common. It was years ago that kidnapping seemed to have its "heyday," when big ransom demands and famous victims combined to captivate the media and in turn the public. Nowadays, it seems fairly rare to hear of a kidnapping amongst all the reports of assaults, homicides, drunk driving accidents and other staples of Los Angeles crime.
Recently, though, an unusual incident made local headlines. On June 8, a college student was in a parking garage at the University of California – Riverside on the Sunday afternoon. She was purportedly grabbed by an unidentified white male and bound. It was reported that the man put her in his vehicle, struck her at one point, drove her around and then eventually released her.
Riverside police say the man’s car is a gray Nissan Sentra, and they are asking witnesses to come forward if they know anything about the alleged incident. Police later released a sketch of the suspect, who they believe is probably in his mid-20s to early 30s. He is described as having short or medium blond hair, and police emphasized that he is likely dangerous.
Interestingly, police have speculated that the incident may be related to an earlier pair of apparent kidnapping attempts. Both allegedly occurred on April 12 of this year, also at UC – Riverside. However, police aren’t sure if the descriptions of the suspects are a solid match.
Kidnapping is a crime under both state and federal laws. Generally, it is often defined as taking an individual to a different location against that person’s will. It can also involve confining a person to a controlled area.
The issue of parental kidnapping has come up in recent years, as more and more families experience divorce, separation or conflicted custody battles. Usually a parental abduction scenario is when one parent violates a custody order and flees with the child. Fortunately, some parents will turn up in a few days, but some take their children and disappear for longer periods, sparking criminal investigations, manhunts and more.
Whether one is accused of kidnapping or any criminal offense, it’s important to get the proper legal help. Contact experienced Los Angeles defense attorney Jonathan Kelman at 310.286.1218 for more information.