LAPD

Hammer-Wielding Man Stalked Woman Before He Kidnapped Her: LAPD

In an incident caught on camera, Jose Eduardo Gaxiola Caro, 29, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a woman.

A hammer-wielding man arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a woman Wednesday threatened her family and had been stalking her for the past several weeks, police said.

"This person, for the last several weeks, had been following her, stalking her, following her to her car, trying to find out where she lives," said LAPD Det. Gerald Harden. "At one point in time he has tried to deliver flowers to what he thought was a family member's house."

Jose Eduardo Gaxiola Caro, 29, was taken into custody around 9:30 p.m. after a short pursuit and traffic accident in North Hollywood, according to the LAPD Southwest Division. 

Officers responded to a silent alarm call at a convenience store in the 3900 block of Denker Avenue around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Police soon learned that the female store clerk had been kidnapped.

Surveillance video shows the suspect, armed with a hammer, grabbing the victim and dragging her out of the store into his car. He fled southbound on Denker Avenue from the store.

The 28-year-old woman escaped from his car several hours later. She has since been found and was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

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Caro was spotted hours later in the North Hollywood area. LAPD officers staked out near his home on Bonner Avenue. 

When Caro arrived, he led officers on a short pursuit, jumping a curb and slamming into parked cars, police said. Officers tased Caro and took him into custody.

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