Search Continues for Suspect in Attempted Kidnappings

CHARLOTTE, NC — CMPD is still searching for a suspect who tried to kidnap two women in Southwest Charlotte, then burned the car he was driving before police could find him.

The first attempted kidnapping happened on York Road just before 8:00 Tuesday morning. The second happened about an hour later, eight miles away on Dixie River Road. Police later found the suspect’s burned car on Performance Drive.

Both victims say a light skinned Hispanic man with a gun tried to force them into the Mercedes he was driving.

Tonight, CMPD is asking for any information that could lead to his arrest. They consider him to be armed and dangerous.

“Quite frankly, anytime somebody is trying to destroy evidence, that’s a problem,” says Captain Cecil Brisbon. “And that makes our job that much more difficult. So what we’re dealing with right now is somebody who knew that there was a potential for them to be caught because of the vehicle, and their linkage to the vehicle. And they were trying to get rid of that evidence.”

These attempted kidnappings happened in broad daylight, on well traveled roads. Both victims took quick action, and got away without getting hurt.

CMPD is warning people using parks and trails to take extra steps to protect themselves.

“That’s brazen,” says Andre Williams, who exercises regularly at Freedom Park. “That’s actually brazen. I wouldn’t expect anybody to try anything in broad daylight.”

But that was the situation with two attempted kidnappings early Tuesday morning. Two women, jogging alone in each instance, tell police a Hispanic man pulled up and tried to force them into a car. They were both able to get away without harm.

But it’s crimes like this that shake a city like Charlotte, filled with outdoor and exercise loving citizens, to the core.

“Especially in the summer time, naturally there’s going to be more people out here jogging, and walking, and just enjoying the weather,” says Officer John Frisk with CMPD’s Crime Prevention Unit.

Officer Frisk says parks and popular trails across the city are seeing an increase in police presence

“Throughout the summer you’ll see officers that are out here on foot patrol, or even on bike patrol, or even riding their motorcycles around out in the parks,” he continues.

But officers can’t be everywhere.

Frisk says you have to take steps to try and stay safe:

– Be alert.
– Stay away from heavily wooded, secluded or poorly lit areas.
– Walk or jog with someone you know.

“Definitely go out there in pairs and groups, definitely,” says Williams. “I see women walking together all the time, running together all the time. But I do see those individuals out here by themselves.”

And while we all love to run with headphones in, Frisk says that can make you easier prey, less aware when trouble comes.

“If somebody’s coming up on you quick, you might have to do something to defend yourself,” he explains. “That’s one of the biggest things, is being aware of your surroundings.”

CMPD is combating an overall spike in violent crime, which was up more than 14% in the first quarter of 2017.

Aggravated assaults were up 12% over last year, with more than 1,000 cases reported in the first three months of this year.