‘Armed and dangerous’ kidnapping suspect still on the run after crash in Palm Desert
Police Wednesday night continued their hours-long search for a Palm Springs man who they say kidnapped his girlfriend at gunpoint.
Manuel Valadez, 33, was still on the run into the night after the alleged kidnapping ended in a crash on Dinah Shore Drive in Palm Desert.
Police said Valadez is considered "armed and dangerous."
He reportedly drove the woman around the Coachella Valley, making it at least as far east as Washington Street.
Police said Valadez fired a handgun out the car window and was reportedly threatening his passenger before a physical struggle ensued and the car crashed.
The silver chevy sedan was seen on top of the center median.
The ex-girlfriend, police said, escaped to safety, while Valadez got away.
"We do consider him armed and dangerous, and we are very concerned at this point with him being out in the public with that firearm," said Lt. William Hutchinson with Palm Springs Police Dept.
Valadez was arrested about two weeks ago in Palm Springs on suspicion of domestic abuse and inflicting injury.
He was booked into jail and the same day, posted bond on his $50,000 bail. He was then released. Charges have not yet been filed in that case.
"This was a very targeted situation, a very targeted scenario, and we do have a lot of personnel looking for this individual," Hutchinson said.
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