Suspect In Kidnapping Caught On Camera Arrested; Woman Unharmed

COMMERCE -- A man suspected of kidnapping a woman at gunpoint in Commerce was in custody today. The incident was captured on surveillance video, prompting a scramble by investigators to identify and find the woman before further harm could come to her.

William Garcia, 32, of Commerce was arrested about 2 p.m. Wednesday and booked on suspicion of kidnapping, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was held on $1.2 million bail, and his car was recovered and impounded.

``The female victim involved in the incident on Tuesday ... was found safe and unharmed,'' the sheriff's department reported. ``She is being questioned by detectives for more information regarding the incident.''

According to the sheriff's department, the woman was walking and talking on her cell phone at 4:21 p.m. Tuesday, and appeared to be trying to get away from someone.

As she approached the 2200 block of Couts Avenue, the suspect pulled his car into a nearby driveway, got out of the car, hit the victim with a pistol and forced her into the passenger side of the vehicle and drove away south of Cowlin Avenue.

A sheriff's department official told ABC7 the kidnapping may have been a ``possible domestic dispute."

The name of the victim was not released. Anyone with information on the kidnapping was asked to call the Sheriff's Major Crime Bureau at 562-946-7037. Callers who choose to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

-- City News Service