Port Authority Police Arrest Man in Fort Lee NJ for Allegedly Kidnapping Passengers
New Jersey police arrested a man who allegedly kidnapped two people he was in the process of transporting from Texas.
A Port Authority police officer stopped a silver 2002 Toyota SUV in Fort Lee NJ after observing the vehicle in the HOV lane on the George Washington Bridge. According to the officer, only one person was visible in the vehicle.
The driver, a 26-year-old Elizabeth NJ man, told the officer that there were two passengers in the back of the SUV. The driver then rolled down the rear driver’s side window to reveal two individuals in the third row of the vehicle.
The officer told the driver he could leave. However, when the suspect began to drive away, one of the backseat passengers allegedly reached out of the window and shouted for help.
At that point, the police officer told the suspect to bring the vehicle to a stop. The suspect reportedly ignored the officer’s instruction and left the scene.
A pursuit followed, with several Port Authority police officers joining the chase. The pursuit eventually ended because the suspect got jammed up in traffic.
Police officers then interviewed one of the victims, a 33-year-old Spanish man. The victim told police that the suspect picked him up in Texas and agreed to drive him to Maryland in exchange for a cash payment. However, the suspect allegedly demanded more money once they arrived in Maryland. The victim refused to pay, prompting the suspect to allegedly lock the doors of the vehicle and prevent the victim from leaving.
Additionally, the suspect allegedly took the victim’s cell phone so that he would not be able to call for help.
Police officers reportedly discovered that the locking mechanisms for the doors and windows had been disabled.
The suspect was arrested and charged with several criminal offenses, including kidnapping, criminal restraint, and receiving stolen property. Additionally, the suspect was charged with driving with a suspended license because he was allegedly unable to provide police with a valid license.
Moreover, the suspect was allegedly wanted for several parole violations out of Texas.
The suspect was taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $1 million.
For additional information about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “Kidnapped Men Yelled for Help During GWB Traffic Stop, Police Say.”
