Police search for suspect in kidnapping and carjacking
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Reported by: Melissa Mecija
Police are on the lookout for a man they say kidnapped a 23-year-old woman during a carjacking late Wednesday night.
It all started at the Cal Poly campus on the intersection of Crandall and Campus Way around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday night.
The suspect, Ryan Soqui, is a parolee. Police were able to identify him with the help of the victim and a friend the suspect picked up during this carjacking.
"He is armed, he is dangerous, and we don't know where he's at right now," said Lt. DePriest from the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
It all started when investigators say Soqui approached a 23-year-old Cal Poly student driving an Audi A-6, which has since been taken into evidence. Police say Soqui approached the woman and asked or directions. He then got in the car, pointed a gun at her, and told her to drive. Investigators say Soqui forced the victim to withdraw money from a Wells Fargo ATM. She walked to get cash while Soqui waited. That is when she escaped to a nearby restaurant and call 911.
"She did what she had to do and she cooperated, and the first chance she got, she got away," Lt. DePriest said.
But the story is far from over. According to police, Soqui headed south to Arroyo Grande. Police attempted to stop the car, but Soqui ran yard to yard in a neighborhood on Golden West Place. Police thought Soqui was hiding in a vacant home. That is when they called in the SWAT team. Police evacuated neighbors closest to that home.
"I was afraid, I was concerned, but I knew that God would take care of me," said evacuated neighbor, Mary Carlevale.
SWAT surrounded the house until forcing their way inside around 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
"We all train together and that training became very evident when we were out there because we all work very well together," said Commander John Hough from Arroyo Grande Police Department.
Reported by: Kelly Bush and Jimena Martinez
UPDATE: According to the San Luis Obispo Police Department, the suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Ryan Soqui of Grover Beach. The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Yi Tak Choi of San Luis Obispo.
Police say Soqui is currently on parole and considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding this incident or the suspect should contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department at 805-781-7317 or Crimestoppers at 805-549-7867.
Reported by: Kristen Oato
Officials are on the lookout for a man who allegedly stole a car and tried to kidnap a woman near Cal Poly around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday. According to the victim, the suspect is described as a white or Hispanic man in his 20's. She says he was armed with a small caliber handgun.
Around 10:15 p.m., officers from the Grover Beach Police Department and deputies from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department found the victim's car, a 2000 four-door silver Audi A6, near the 700 block of South Elm Street in Arroyo Grande.
When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver sped away and jumped an embankment in front of a house near Dixon Street and Oak Park Boulevard. A man who was riding in the passenger seat tried to get out of the car and run, but officers were able to detain him.
The driver of the Audi also got out of the car to run and investigators ran after him. Officers from the Arroyo Grande Police Department also joined in the pursuit. Police say the suspect ran toward the 400 block of Golden West Place, where he began moving down the street. Multiple residents in the area called the police department, alerting dispatchers of the suspect's movement as he ran from yard to yard.
The suspect was last seen at an empty house at the end of the cul-de-sac in the 400 block of Golden West Place. Authorities set up a perimeter around the house and unsuccessfully tried to contact the man. Because the suspect was armed with a handgun at the time of the robbery and officials could not be certain the man was inside the house, the SWAT team was also called out.
The SWAT team, composed of members of the Paso Robles, Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande Police Departments entered the house just before 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Authorities were not able to find the man after searching the house.
The passenger in the Audi was released after the SWAT team was deployed. An investigation is being conducted by the San Luis Police department. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the suspect should contact SLO PD at 805-781-7317 or CrimeStoppers at 805-549-7867.
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