New Tip Hotline Led To Capture Of Kidnapping Suspect Tobias Summers

ALHAMBRA (CBSLA.com) — The capture of Northridge kidnapping suspect, Tobias Summers, can be majorly credited to the county's new tip line, set up by Los Angeles County's Department of Probation.

The line was originally set up to catch criminals who have broken parole after early releases due to prison overcrowding.

Probation Officer Georgina Clink, one of the officers who check the tip line, received a clear message early Wednesday that mentioned Summers' name.

"I realized it was a very critical phone call," Clink said. "I wrote things down; I checked it about three different times to make sure. It had exactly all the details."

The department's Howard Wong explains some aspects of the call that identified it as crucial to listen to.

"It was credible, it was detailed, and the tipster had a lot of exact information," Wong said.

The tipster was contacted via phone call, with FBI on the line. The bureau took the lead from there, and just a few hours later, Summers was arrested in Baja, Mexico.

"We need the public's help," Wong said. "We have what we have, but we can't be everywhere at once."

Anyone in the public who has a tip for the hotline can call (855)563-7925, or send an email to ab109tips@probation.lacounty.gov.