Police: Man May Have Been Beaten, Kidnapped In Placentia
PLACENTIA (CBSLA.com) — Police Thursday were investigating an apparent beating and kidnapping in Orange County.
Authorities received a call shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday about an assault in the 1100 block of E. Imperial Highway.
"A witness observed a male adult being beaten by at least three male adults," Lt. Eric Point said. "At the conclusion of beating the victim, the suspects dragged the victim into a car, where they fled the scene."
The beating took place just outside a driving school.
Investigating officers found a "significant amount of blood and other items of evidence" at the scene, Point said.
CBS's Jeff Nguyen said the police had no reports of a missing person today.
While police were trying to corroborate the witness account of a beating and kidnapping, police said they found evidence at the scene suggesting there was a violent struggle.
A worker at the pizza place next door, told Nguyen that he heard noises in the parking lot around the time of the alleged kidnapping. He said that by the time he got to the front of the store, all he found outside was a pool of blood and a shoe on the ground.
The victim's identity has not been established and police were trying to determine a motive.
Several employees told KCAL9's Brittney Hopper, off camera, that they didn't see or hear anything as they were closing up.
She saw police and detectives looking through recycling bins and searching one car for clues.
Area residents did tell Hopper they were surprised something of this nature occurred in their safe and quiet neighborhood.
"It's kind of crazy. But there's got to be more to this story than just random," said Chad Wicketts.
Police would not tell Hopper if they believed the alleged victim was a random attack or targeted.
Anyone with information should contact Placentia police at (714) 993-8146.
