Gunman Arrested For Attempted Kidnapping In Fremont

FREMONT, CA — A Fremont man was arrested on attempted kidnapping charges for allegedly trying to kidnap a woman at gunpoint. Police say she picked up her toddler and ran to safety. Police credit surveillance video from nearby homes with helping them to identify the suspect's vehicle, leading to his arrest.

The kidnapping attempt happened on Valpey Park Avenue near Butano Park Drive last Saturday, just after 9 a.m., Fremont Police report.

The woman told police that she was walking with her toddler when a man parked his vehicle near the intersection and asked her for directions. He chatted with her, telling her that he was lost. Police report, "He then handed the victim his cellular phone and asked her to show him how to navigate to a nearby area. Once she was holding his phone, he displayed a handgun and told her to get into his car."

Instead, the woman immediately picked up her child and ran away, still holding the man's phone. The suspect got out of his vehicle and yelled at the victim to give him the phone back. She threw it in his direction and kept going. Police say the suspect picked up his phone, got back in his vehicle and drove away.

Police officers located surveillance video at multiple residences in the area, which showed the suspect’s vehicle and his flight path.

On Sunday afternoon, a patrol officer spotted the suspect’s vehicle driving in the area of Blacow Road and Fremont Boulevard at 4:28 p.m. Additional officers responded to help with the vehicle stop. The suspect pulled over just south of Franklin Avenue and Roberts Avenue. 19-year-old Alexander Arriola of Fremont was arrested. Officers found a Glock handgun, registered to the suspect, in the vehicle.

On Wednesday, Arriola was charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping, one count felony child endangerment, possession of a loaded firearm, and an enhancement for use of a firearm.

If you have any information about this case, or experienced a similar crime that you did not report, call the Fremont Police Department at 510-790-6900 or email Detective Holguin at Aholguin@fremont.gov.

-Images via Fremont Police