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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — Police are looking for a man who they believe tried to kidnap a 20-year-old woman Monday in the Glendale neighborhood.
The Salt Lake City Police Department said the woman was walking home at about 5:40 p.m. near Navajo Street (1355 West) and 1300 South when she was approached by a man in a small, bright blue, 4- door car.
Police described the man as a Hispanic in his mid-30s with a shaved head and no facial hair. He is of average height and built, and he was wearing a green polo shirt.
"The suspect got out of the vehicle, approached her and ordered her to get into the vehicle at gunpoint," Lt. Gary Trost of the Salt Lake City Police Department said.
Trost said the man grabbed the victim by the arm and physically put her into the vehicle.
"The suspect then walked around the vehicle to get in the driver's seat and the victim took the opportunity at that time to open the door and flee from the vehicle and the suspect," Trost said. "Her residence was nearby, she ran to her residence and was able to call police from the residence and was safe at that point."
Trost also said the man shut the door on the victim's leg. She has an abrasion on her leg, but was otherwise physically unharmed, he said.
The victim said "she has no idea who this person was, she has no idea why she would be the target of this type of attempt. So yes, that makes us really concerned," Trost said.
Trost said there are not often reports of attempted abductions of adults in his jurisdiction, so this case is "highly unusual, especially in Salt Lake City."
The Glendale neighborhood council said this is an examples of why their streets need more police presence.
"They need more patrols over here — they always have. We talk to them about it all the time," said Randy Sorensen, Glendale Community Council chair. "I guess there are some new (patrols) being put on, but it's got to happen soon."
If you have any information, you can call police at 801-799-3000.
Contributing: Paul Nelson
