California Man Accused Of Attacking Woman With Flashlight, Kidnapping Her And Tying Her Up With Duct Tape

A man in California has been arrested after he allegedly attacked a woman with a flashlight, kidnapped her, threatened to kill her and tied her up using duct tape, police said.

Around 6:00 a.m. on March 10, officers responded to a report of a kidnapping and found a female victim suffering from “major injuries,” the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said.

The female victim was transported to the hospital and told investigators that Jacob Chapman, 20, allegedly kidnapped and assaulted her after she gave him a ride the night before to his home in Sonora, according to officials.

Once they arrived at his home, the victim said Chapman “attacked her, striking her multiple times in the head with a flashlight,” police said.

In addition, Chapman allegedly threatened the woman with a gun, made her drive to other locations and threatened to kill her unless she gave up her bank account information, authorities said.

According to investigators, the victim said Chapman then tied her “wrists and ankles with duct tape” and made threats to kill her “if she tried to escape.”

Chapman proceeded to drive the vehicle to numerous locations before tying up the woman and leaving her inside the car, officers said.

The victim was able to escape and flagged down a community member to call for help, officials said.

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Detectives determined Chapman was armed with a gun and he may have been dropped off near the bathrooms of Columbia State Park. Police did a protective sweep of the area due to the severity of the crimes and recovered a stolen 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol from the vehicle used to drop Chapman off at the park.

Around 10:30 p.m. on March 11, the suspect turned himself in to police and was booked into the Dambacher Detention Center.

Chapman was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and brandishing a firearm, police said.