Authorities make arrest in Camarillo kidnapping

By From staff reports

Posted November 26, 2011 at 7:56 p.m., updated November 26, 2011 at 8:38 p.m.

A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with a kidnapping that occurred earlier this month, Ventura County sheriff's officials said.

The suspect, Juan Coronado, is an undocumented immigrant who had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, authorities said. He was taken into custody Friday after authorities issued a search warrant for a residence in Oxnard, authorities said.

About 12:50 p.m. on Nov. 17, California Highway Patrol officers and Ventura County sheriff's deputies responded to a woman running in the median of Highway 101 at Sea Cliff near Ventura, officials said.

The woman had been severely beaten and had abrasions on her body after having jumped from a moving car, officials said.

Deputies said that earlier that day, the victim was at work in Camarillo when Coronado, her ex-boyfriend, showed up and began to argue with her.

During the argument, Coronado took the victim's car keys and ordered her to get in her car and they drove onto Highway 101 toward Santa Barbara, authorities said.

During that time, the victim repeatedly asked Coronado to take her home and he allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her, officials said.

When they approached Sea Cliff, the woman jumped out of the moving car and ran in the center median, officials said.

Coronado fled the scene in the victim's vehicle, officials said.

The sheriff's gang unit took over the investigation and determined Coronado was a previously deported undocumented immigrant who had a criminal history, authorities said.

On Friday, gang investigators served a search warrant at a residence in the 400 block of San Simeon Avenue in Oxnard and found evidence that Coronado had been living there, officials said.

Investigators set up surveillance of the neighborhood and Coronado was found a short time later walking near the intersection of San Simeon and Bard Road, officials said.

As investigators approached the suspect, Coronado tried to flee and fought with deputies once they caught up with him, officials said. Investigators used a Taser to incapacitate Coronado and arrest him, officials said.

He was treated for minor injuries at Ventura County Medical Center and booked into Ventura County jail on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, possession of methamphetamine and domestic violence, officials said.

He was being held without bail, authorities said.

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