Strange call leads friend to man's work. There he found a rape victim, police say.

A strange call from a 20-year-old Illinois man prompted his friend to check on his well-being, but police say he instead found a rape victim.

Around 2 a.m. May 19, deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a possible sexual assault in progress, police said.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the 911 caller said he was checking on the well-being of Ryan Storm, 20, after receiving a strange call from Storm.

The friend went to find Storm at his place of work, authorities said. But, Storm fled the area.

That is when the friend noticed a nude woman tied to a piece of heavy equipment. The victim, 20, was battered and the victim of a sexual assault, police said.

The victim was taken to a local hospital and is recovering, according to authorities.

Investigators determined Storm was responsible for holding the victim against her will, tying her down and sexually assaulting her, police said.

Deputies and canines spent several hours searching for Storm. Around 8 a.m., a witness spotted Storm and he was arrested. 

Storm was charged with kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint, authorities said.

“I firmly believe that the victim’s life was saved because of the gut feeling the caller had, and the caller taking the further step of checking on the situation in the middle of the night. That, in conjunction with terrific law-enforcement collaboration, saved the victim’s life and allowed us to take the offender into custody," Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.

Storm is being held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial hearing.