‘Kidnapped’ Newark Woman's 'Abductor' Was Just Her Repentant Boyfriend: Police

NEWARK, NJ — Here’s what bystanders saw in Newark on Saturday: a man in a van stopped a woman on the street, pushed her into his vehicle and apparently abducted her when he drove away.

But in reality, it was probably just a man trying to apologize to his angry girlfriend, Newark authorities say.

Newark police originally reported the incident as a possible kidnapping or abduction, asking for the public’s help identifying a black male suspect who allegedly forced a woman into his van around 9:21 a.m.

“Police are investigating the incident and have determined that victim was walking south on Mulberry Street when a van, traveling north on Mulberry, stopped at Edison Place,” the Newark Department of Public Safety wrote in a Saturday news release. “The victim approached the passenger side of the suspect’s vehicle and spoke briefly with the male driver. When the victim walked away, the driver exited the van, directed the victim to get into the vehicle before pushing her into the passenger side of the van. The male got into the driver’s side, made a U-turn and drove south on Mulberry Street onto McCarter Highway.”

But when the reported “victim” got wind of the police hunt for her “abductor,” she immediately reached out to authorities to explain what really happened.

The woman told officers that the misunderstanding began when her boyfriend was late picking her up at Newark Penn Station that morning after she returned from a trip to California.

“When her boyfriend spotted her walking near Mulberry Street and Edison Place, he stopped to pick her up,” Newark police stated. “She continued walking because she was upset with him for being late. The boyfriend then pleaded for her forgiveness. Once she agreed, he exited the van, lifted her off her feet and placed her in the van before driving away.”

Police have closed the investigation due to the woman’s response, authorities stated.

“Thanks to the effective use of the media, we now know that the woman is safe and unharmed,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said.

Photo: Newark Department of Public Safety

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