Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Major Crimes Office – Metro Detail, is investigating a possible kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, which occurred on Monday, May 22, 2023, at approximately 8:38 p.m., on the block 3800 E. Third St, in the unincorporated community of East Los Angeles.  .  The incident was captured on surveillance video and showed an adult female attempting to board a Montebello Transit bus.  As the woman boarded the bus, a male adult suspect confronted her from behind her.  The bus driver and a passenger attempted to intervene on the woman's behalf when the suspect broke a bus window and recovered a handgun from a nearby vehicle, described as a white 2022 Honda Civic 4-door.  .  The suspect pointed his gun at the bus driver and appeared to force the woman into the nearby vehicle, which was driven by the male suspect.  The vehicle then left the location east on Third Street toward the eastbound S/R 60 Freeway and was out of sight.

Authorities released this image of the man suspected of forcing a woman off a bus in East Los Angeles and taking her away in a white sedan. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

Los Angeles police arrested a 24-year-old man suspected of kidnapping a woman at gunpoint Monday night on an East Los Angeles bus, authorities said.

The woman had just boarded a Montebello Transit bus around 8:30 p.m. in the 3800 block of East 3rd Street when a man confronted her from behind, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Video surveillance shows the bus driver and another passenger “attempted to intervene” during the confrontation, but the man got out of the bus and retrieved a handgun from a nearby car, the Sheriff’s Department said. He pointed the gun at the bus driver and forced the woman into a white car, possibly a 2022 Honda Civic, before driving off onto the 60 Freeway.

The suspect, whom authorities identified as Angel Flores, was later arrested by Los Angeles Police Department officers on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Authorities said agents found a replica firearm inside Flores’ vehicle that resembled the gun used in the kidnapping.

Sheriff’s detectives also later found the woman and learned that she was not injured during the incident. Authorities added that she “was in a dating relationship” with the suspect.

Flores was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism, according to the sheriff’s department. He remained in custody Tuesday night in lieu of $5,000 bail, records show.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau at (562) 946-7893 or the East LA station at (323) 264-4151. Anonymous tips can also be provided by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.

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