Police say man kidnapped person from Petaluma shopping center parking lot

PETALUMA, Calif. -- Officers arrested a man in Petaluma early Friday morning after he allegedly kidnapped a victim from a shopping center parking lot on North McDowell Boulevard, police said.

Benjamin Sher, 28, of San Diego, was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, felony assault and driving under the influence with $100,000 bail, according to police.

The case began around 2:40 a.m. when officers responded to reports of a disturbance, police said. The person who called said a victim was in a physical confrontation with Sher and alleged that Sher kidnapped the victim, according to police.

Officers went to the parking lot but couldn't find Sher or the victim. Moments later, the victim called 911 from a home on Western Avenue, according to police.

The victim told police Sher crashed the vehicle into a tree on Western Avenue and the victim was able to get away, according to police. Sher fled into open space near Helen Putnam Park, police said.

Officers from the Petaluma Police Department and Sonoma County sheriff's deputies found Sher around 3:43 a.m.