Oakland police arrest two in kidnapping for ransom; Victim safe
HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) -- A dramatic car chase ended Friday morning with Oakland police finding a San Leandro man tied up in the trunk of a car.
Two suspects were arrested and accused of kidnapping that man for ransom.
The victim was found in the trunk of a car at the end of a chase that started in Oakland and ended in Hayward at around 8 a.m. The incident began Thursday night around 10:30 p.m. when a business man in his 50s was kidnapped at gunpoint from an East Oakland parking lot. He was then taken to a house outside of Oakland.
Video shows police chase end in crash, victim freed in Hayward
A witness captured cellphone video Friday morning of police surrounding a dark colored Buick, after it crashed through a chain link fence. Officers arrested two suspects while others worked to free someone from the trunk.
"When we took the suspects into custody, we heard sounds at the trunk area," said Oakland police Lt. Nishant Yoshi.
"They're asking for a crowbar and I heard them asking for if they got the bag out. When they opened the trunk, there was a hostage in the trunk and they proceeded to lift him out fireman style," said Jonathan Bradbury, a witness.
The cellphone video shows officers carrying the victim, his hands and feet bound, just freed from the trunk.
Daniel Thomas lives nearby on Paradise Boulevard. He told ABC7 News, "This morning it was around 8 a.m., all I heard was the car hit something, then police went by and told the person, 'Get down on the ground! Get down on the ground!'"
Police said the victim is recovering from the incident.
"I just met with him. He's very glad to be back home with his family," Yoshi said. "He has some minor injuries, but he's going to be all right."
Oakland police believe the victim was targeted by the kidnappers.
