Man Kidnapped 3 Children, Dragged Dad, Crashed Mom's Car In Malibu: Police

MALIBU, CA — A man stole a car carrying three young children in East Los Angeles, dragged their father, led police on a chase to Malibu, and was involved in a crash that included at least five vehicles, authorities said.

The incident began around 6:40 p.m. Friday in the 5100 block of East Olympic Boulevard, where a woman had parked, leaving the engine running with her children — ages 8, 6 and 2 — inside her Chrysler sedan while she entered a convenience store, according to police, who said the children's father was parked nearby.

A man entered the car and drove away with the children, but their father tried to intervene and was dragged, suffering upper body injuries, police said. The man was found in the area by deputies but fled, resulting in a chase that ended after the multi-car crash at Pacific Coast Highway and Kanan Dume Road in Malibu, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The man fled on foot but was apprehended, police said, adding he was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening and remained there Saturday, with charges pending.

The three children also suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and were taken to a hospital, as was a woman involved in the crash, according to police.