Police Finds Kidnapped Victim

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, August 30, 1999
On Friday, August 27, 1999, at approximately 11:00 a.m., three armed men forced their way into a building located at the 13000 block of Pierce Street in Pacoima where they fired a round from a handgun into the ceiling and kidnapped 23 year old Juan Carlos Torres.

Hours later on August 28, 1999, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputies, patrolling the unincorporated area of Chatsworth, observed a suspicious vehicle which attempted to evade them. The Deputies pursued the vehicle until it crashed into a garage at O’Melvany and San Jose Streets, in Pacoima. The three suspects then ran from the vehicle. Deputies found Juan Torres in the back seat of the vehicle. Torres was injured and was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment where he was listed in satisfactory condition.
A multi-agency search was conducted for the suspects which included officers from the Los Angeles, San Fernando, Burbank and Los Angeles School Police Departments, as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the California Highway Patrol. Two suspects were located and arrested. The third suspect remains at large and is described only as a male Hispanic. The motive for the kidnapping is unknown at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the third suspect should call Foothill Detectives at 818 834-3115 or 818 756-8861.

For Release 1:10 pm PDT
August 30, 1999