Kidnapped children jump from stolen car, flag down passerby to call 911, Oregon cops say
A woman was arrested after stealing a car with children inside, Oregon police say.
A father had left his car running with his two children sitting in the backseat as he went inside a Portland business on Monday, Jan. 22, the Portland Police Bureau said in a news release. When he returned, police said he saw a “woman jumping into the driver’s seat.”
He tried to stop her, but the woman accelerated away with the two children inside the car, according to police.
About 10 minutes later, police said the two children — ages 9 and 11 — managed to jump from the car while it was stopped at a stoplight.
The children, who were not hurt, stopped a passerby, who called 911, according to police. Officers found the children and reunited them with family, police said.
Not too long after, a Multnomah County deputy spotted the stolen car in North Portland, police said.
Officials from multiple agencies began pursuing the car on Interstate 5 into Washington state, according to police. The car was stopped south of the Northeast 134th Street exit, according to police.
The woman was taken into custody, police said.
McClatchy News reached out to police about what potential charges the woman will face.
This story was originally published January 23, 2024 at 10:33 AM with the headline "Kidnapped children jump from stolen car, flag down passerby to call 911, Oregon cops say."
