Boy, 7, Allegedly Kidnapped With Stolen Truck Near Wilshire Blvd.

LOS ANGELES, CA — A suspected car thief kidnapped a 7-year-old boy who was still inside a pickup truck when it was stolen Thursday afternoon in the Mid-Wilshire area, according to police.

The truck was taken at about 2:50 p.m. near Wilshire Boulevard and Orange Grove Avenue in the Miracle Mile area, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman. A man told ABC7 that the suspect, who was his friend, punched him in the head and took the truck with the victim's boy inside.

The boy's father told ABC7 he stopped to get something to eat, which angered the suspect, who claimed he had business to attend to, leading to the alleged battery, theft and kidnapping.

The truck was later found on Elm Drive in Beverly Hills, but the suspect and boy were not immediately located, police said.

"At this time we don't know where the boy is, and we are worried about his safety," Im said.

Hours later, the suspect took the child to the LAPD's Wilshire Station and the boy was reunited with his father, Im said. The suspect -- identified as 25-year-old Nicky Jace -- was arrested and will be booked on suspicion of carjacking and kidnapping, Im said.

The suspect was described as a 45-year-old white man wearing a black hooded sweater, dark brown pants and dark shoes. He had a tattoo of a rose on his right arm, Im said.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.