The focus of a Monrovia kidnapping investigation turned to downtown Los Angeles overnight when police found the suspect inside a Toyota Prius that had been sought in connection with the crime.
The discovery led to an hourslong SWAT standoff with 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou. After refusing for hours to come out of the car, he finally surrendered at about 7:45 a.m. when officers shattered the rear window and tossed canisters of tear gas inside the car.
No one else was in the Prius. The 31-year-old woman he is suspected of kidnapping has not been located by police.
The search began after the Monrovia Police Department responded to a domestic violence report around 8:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Vaquero Road and found evidence of an apparent assault, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which said it was assisting the Monrovia Police Department.
The victim was identified as Amanda Kathleen Custer, 31, and described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.
Investigators believe the victim was kidnapped in a 2017 gray Toyota Pruis with license plate "8AOR167," the LASD said.
The call to police was made by Camou's parents and officers found blood at the home, sheriff's Lt. Scott Hoglund told reporters. Camou and Custer were in a dating relationship for about two years and police had been called to Camou's home numerous times in the past because of domestic incidents involving the two, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, which reported that Custer does not live at the house.
Hoglund said Custer offered no resistance as she was placed in the rear hatch area of the Prius, according to The Tribune.
If anyone has any information regarding the above incident or the whereabouts of the victim, suspect or vehicle pictured they are encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
