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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
Sandra Yi ReportingA West Valley City woman is telling police how she was kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a car for hours. Three people, including her ex-boyfriend, are now in custody.
The 33-year old woman told police her ex-boyfriend found out she was involved with another man. Police say she fears retaliation and is headed out of town. The suspects left the car in a neighborhood, and that's when the woman was able to escape.
Kimberly Draper: "It brought a lot of fear because I do have a little girl and she was scared. It was definitely a scary time."
Kimberly Draper saw the arrests when she went outside this morning.
Kimberly Draper: "I woke up to let my dog out and there were rifles pointed at suspects in front of the house."
Police arrested three people, including a man accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint. The woman told police she was kidnapped from her home in West Valley yesterday and taken to Tooele. She says, there, the suspects tied her up with rope, forced her into the trunk of a dark Toyota Sedan, and then drove to Salt Lake.
Lt. Craig Gleason: "She said the people who did that made it a habit to be armed and they had made statements that they would never be captured, words to that effect."
The woman escaped by hitting the emergency latch in the trunk. She ran to a neighbor's house and called 9-1-1. Police say she had scrapes and bruises.
Lt. Craig Gleason, Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "She obviously was traumatized, emotionally frazzled. When I saw her walk, it appeared sh was at least achy and hurt."
The woman led police to an apartment where the suspects were hiding. Officers used a bullhorn to call them out. Ten people were inside. Police arrested the suspects and three women for unrelated charges.
West Valley Police say, before the alleged kidnapping, the trio may have been involved in a drive-by shooting last night. No one was hurt, but a witness identified Lujan as a possible suspect.
Police say, had the victim not escaped, there could have been a different ending.
Det. Robin Snyder: "It was a happy ending. It was a happy ending for her that she was able to get free, and that emergency latch really helped her."
West Valley Police have arrested the victim's boyfriend, Ignacio Sanchez, as well as Izacc Lujan, and a 17-year old boy for aggravated kidnapping. Police say they could face additional charges.
The suspects were driving a car stolen from a dealership in Provo. Police say they may have been involved in another violent crime before the alleged kidnapping.
