Jogger escapes stranger’s ‘bear hug’ as he tries to kidnap her, California police say
A man accused of trying to kidnap a jogger while she was stopped at an intersection has been arrested, California police say.
The woman told police she was on a jog in the city of Ventura and stopped at an intersection the afternoon of March 25, the Ventura Police Department said in an April 1 Facebook post.
Because she was wearing headphones, she explained that she didn’t hear when a man approached from behind and “bear-hugged” her, police said.
The woman broke free from the man and ran, police said.
A driver passing by noticed the struggle and pulled over once the woman was free, according to police.
The woman, who was not hurt, rushed inside the passerby’s car, and the passerby took photos of the man as he fled, police said.
A photo of the man made rounds on social media and caught the eye of a resident who recognized him, police said.
Using cameras in the area, detectives confirmed the man’s identity, police said.
The 28-year-old was arrested near his home on an attempted kidnapping charge, police said.
McClatchy News reached out to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and is awaiting a response on formal charges.
The man, who is being held on $30,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court April 10, jail records show.
Ventura is about a 80-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Jogger escapes stranger’s ‘bear hug’ as he tries to kidnap her, California police say."
