Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST VALLEY CITY — As West Valley police continue to look for a man who tried to kidnap a woman at random by pretending he was having car problems, additional details about the frightening attack have been revealed, as well as the woman's efforts to fight back and escape.
On May 22, a 40-year-old woman was in her car working as a food delivery driver when she came across what appeared to be a stranded motorist about 1:30 a.m. near 7600 West and 5400 South.
When the woman exited her vehicle, the man raised a handgun and forced the woman into his car. Police said the man attempted to assault her, but she managed to escape the vehicle and then fled the scene in her car.
The woman went to a nearby gas station where she called police. When officers talked to her, they learned that she "had just delivered food and saw a vehicle stopped on the south side of the road facing west with the hazards on. The trunk was up, and the license plate was covered with a plastic bag," according to a search warrant affidavit. The man was standing outside his car holding jumper cables.
The woman says she had almost walked to the front of the man's car when he "went to his waistband and showed her a gun" and told her to get in the car.
The woman got into the passenger seat, but not all way. While still holding a gun in one hand, the man "hit her in her left eye with his (other) fist" and ripped open the woman's shirt, the affidavit states.
"He pinned her arms above her head, and he set the gun on her stomach. He started binding her with zip ties," according to police.
When the man put the gun on her stomach, however, the woman says she was able to grab it and throw it in the back seat, the affidavit states. "(She) said she could now try to fight him; she punched him and kicked him."
The woman fell out of the car to the ground and was able to then get into her own car and drive off.
A SIM card from the woman's dashboard camera was collected and viewed by police to try and help them identify the man.
The suspect, a white or Hispanic middle-age man, is believed to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall. At the time of attack, he had a beard and was wearing either a construction vest or a bright yellow shirt, and a beanie, according to police. He was driving a silver car, possibly a Chevy Aveo.
Anyone who might have information is encouraged to contact police at majorcrimes@wvc-ut.gov or call 801-965-5200.
