What started as a terrifying afternoon for a young Berkeley mother and her three small children ended several hours later with an arrest in San Leandro and, according to police, everyone physically unharmed.
Berkeley police say a man forced his 21-year-old ex-girlfriend into a car along with her three children, a 1-year-old and two 3-year-olds, yesterday, then drove off. He was arrested later that day in San Leandro after a chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies. All three children were found safe, authorities said.
The incident was reported at about 1:07 PM in the 1800 block of Sixth Street, after a relative called 911 to say her daughter was being forced into a vehicle by the daughter's ex-boyfriend, according to The Berkeley Scanner. Officers say they initially followed the vehicle but eventually lost sight of it in Oakland.
How the pursuit unfolded
Police later picked up the trail in San Leandro, where they spotted the vehicle near MacArthur and Broadmoor boulevards just before 3 PM, as reported by SFGATE. Officers say they could see the woman and the children inside.
When officers moved in, the suspect allegedly dropped one of the toddlers and bolted on foot into a nearby block, triggering a containment operation in the neighborhood.
Drone, helicopter, and perimeter led to the arrest
According to Berkeley police, a California Highway Patrol helicopter and a San Leandro police drone joined the search from above, while officers secured the area on the ground. At about 3:45 PM, officers say they found the man hiding inside a trash receptacle in the 900 block of Victoria Avenue in San Leandro, as detailed by The Berkeley Scanner.
The suspect, described only as a man in his 20s, is expected to be booked on suspicion of kidnapping, domestic violence, evading police, and other offenses. His name had not been released pending the completion of the booking process. Police say both adults and all three children were ultimately reunited and determined to be unharmed.
What the likely charges mean
Kidnapping and certain domestic-violence offenses carry significant potential prison time under California law. Penal Code section 207 defines kidnapping and its elements, while Penal Code section 273.5 covers corporal injury to an intimate partner. Statutory summaries and jury instructions outline the possible sentences and the evidence that prosecutors must prove.
Next steps in the investigation
Berkeley police say the case remains active and are asking anyone with information to contact the department. As of Thursday night, officials had not released full booking details. Local prosecutors will review the case once booking is complete, and any formal charges will later appear in the Alameda County booking log, according to SFGATE.
