Huntington Beach Man Kidnaps Woman While On Date, She Says

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA —A Huntington Beach man is suspected of kidnapping his 31-year-old date, and driving her out of Orange County toward San Diego.

While on a date in Costa Mesa, Ricardo Rodrigo Salas, 36, refused to let the date end, his suspected victim told authorities after her escape.

He "kept driving" his Toyota Tundra pickup truck southbound on I-5 toward San Diego against her will, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Latulippe.

She managed to escape from his car at a vista point on Southbound I-5 before 12:15 a.m. Monday.

A truck driver came to her aid, loaning her his phone and keeping the man from her, Latulippe told Patch.

Oceanside CHP officers were involved in an unrelated pursuit, so Camp Pendleton Police officers responded to the call.

"After a short pursuit, Camp Pendleton police caught up and stopped him at the Aliso Creek Rest Area.

According to Latulippe, the woman was reunited with her family at the CHP Oceanside office. Her identity remains concealed as of this report.

Salas was booked into the Vista Detention Facility shortly after 4:15 a.m. Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence, kidnapping and false imprisonment, according to jail records. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail pending his arraignment, scheduled for July 31.

Read also: Good Samaritan Thwarts Kidnapping Attempt At Remote I-5 Lookout